English Reference

Word

horoscope

Phoneticshoro·scope

US/ˈhɔɹəˌskoʊp/

UK/hˈɒɹəskˌəʊp/

Definitions

01astrological forecast

B1

n. a short text, often in a newspaper, that tells you what might happen in your life based on your star sign.

n. a predictive text or forecast based on the zodiac signs, typically published in periodicals for general entertainment.

“I always check my horoscope in the Sunday paper just for fun.”

“While many readers dismiss the daily horoscope as mere superstition, it remains one of the most popular sections of the lifestyle magazine.”

Synonyms

02birth chart

C1

n. a map showing where the planets and stars were at the exact time you were born.

n. a diagram or chart representing the positions of the sun, moon, and planets at the moment of an individual's birth.

“The astrologer drew a detailed horoscope to explain her personality traits.”

“Constructing a precise horoscope requires the exact coordinates and time of birth to calculate the rising sign and planetary houses correctly.”

Technical

Synonyms

natal chartbirth chart

Etymology

Borrowed from Middle French horoscope, from Medieval Latin horoscopus, from Ancient Greek ὡροσκόπος (hōroskópos), from ὥρα (hṓra, “any limited time”) + σκοπός (skopós, “watcher”). By surface analysis, horo- + -scope.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B1 · Intermediate
Frequency
Occasional
Updated

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