# Ariel

/ˈɛɹiəɫ/ (US) · /ˈæɹiːəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ariel
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. moon of Uranus

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the brightest moon of the planet Uranus.

For teachers: the brightest and fourth-largest of the twenty-seven known moons of the planet Uranus.

- Astronomers used the telescope to get a better view of Ariel and the other moons of Uranus.
- The Voyager 2 mission provided the first detailed images of Ariel, revealing a complex surface marked by deep canyons and vast plains.

Usage: Always capitalized as it is a proper noun.

### 2. literary character

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary

a spirit or angel in famous English books, like Shakespeare's 'The Tempest'.

For teachers: a spirit who appears in William Shakespeare's play 'The Tempest' and later in John Milton's 'Paradise Lost'.

- In the play, the spirit Ariel helps Prospero by using magic.
- The character of Ariel is often portrayed as an ethereal being, representing the element of air and the desire for freedom from servitude.

Usage: Always capitalized as it is a proper noun.

### 3. mountain gazelle

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a type of small deer-like animal found in the Middle East.

For teachers: a subspecies of the mountain gazelle, Gazella gazella, native to the Arabian Peninsula.

- The ariel is a graceful animal that lives in the desert.
- Conservationists are working to protect the ariel gazelle from habitat loss across its native range in Arabia.

Usage: When referring to the animal species, it is often used as a common noun and not capitalized.

## Examples

- Ariel shines brightly in the winter sky.
- Astronomers used Ariel to calibrate their new telescope before observing distant galaxies.
- The intense blue-white light of Ariel serves as a reliable reference point for amateur astronomers mapping the winter constellations.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.