# celestial

/səˈɫɛstʃəɫ/ (US) · /səlˈɛstjəl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/celestial
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. astronomical

adjective · CEFR C1 · Formal

relating to the sky or outer space, especially the stars and planets.

For teachers: pertaining to the sky or visible heaven; relating to the sun, moon, stars, and planets as astronomical objects.

- Ancient sailors used celestial bodies like the North Star to find their way at sea.
- The observatory provides an unobstructed view of various celestial phenomena, including meteor showers and planetary alignments.

Usage: Often used in technical phrases like 'celestial body' or 'celestial navigation'.

### 2. heavenly or divine

adjective · CEFR C1 · Literary

related to heaven or a god; extremely beautiful or holy.

For teachers: belonging or relating to heaven; divine or supremely good.

- The choir's voices had a celestial quality that filled the cathedral.
- The poet describes the goddess descending from her celestial throne to intervene in the affairs of mortals.

### 3. a heavenly being

noun · CEFR C2 · Literary · Archaic

a being that lives in heaven, such as an angel.

For teachers: an inhabitant of heaven or the spiritual realm.

- In the old story, celestials looked down from the clouds to watch over the city.
- The epic poem depicts a war between the celestials and the fallen spirits for control of the higher realms.

## Examples

- The night sky was full of celestial bodies.
- The museum displayed a collection of celestial maps from the 17th century.
- The poet described the moon's pale light as a celestial blessing that washed over the sleeping city.

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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.