star
- 01 A1 Beginner
n.a bright point of light in the night sky.
n.a celestial body that appears as a luminous point in the night sky, specifically a massive ball of plasma undergoing nuclear fusion.
Simple“We sat on the grass and looked at the stars in the clear night sky.”
In context“The astronomer explained that many of the stars visible to the naked eye are actually much larger and brighter than our own sun.”
Synonymssunluminary - 02 A2 Elementary
n.a very famous and successful person, especially in films, music, or sports.
n.a highly prominent or brilliant person in a specific field, typically within the entertainment or sports industries.
Simple“She became a movie star after her first film was a huge success.”
In context“The young athlete was hailed as a rising star by scouts after his record-breaking performance in the national championships.”
- 03 A2 Elementary
n.a shape with five or more points coming out from the center.
n.a conventionalised geometric figure with five or more radiating points.
Simple“The teacher put a gold star on his homework because he did a great job.”
In context“The national flag features a single white star centered on a blue background, symbolising unity and independence.”
Synonymsasteriskpentagram - 04 C1 Advanced
n.a friendly way to talk to a mate or a pal.
n.a term of address for a friend or associate. Primarily used in specific urban dialects.
Simple“Thanks for the help, star.”
In context“In certain London neighbourhoods, you might hear someone call out to a friend by saying, 'Alright, star?' as a casual greeting.”
Teacher's tipThis usage is very regional and informal; learners should be aware of it but use 'mate' or 'friend' in most contexts.
- 05 B1 Intermediate
v.to be the main actor or performer in a movie or show.
v.to play the principal role in a theatrical production, film, or television programme.
Simple“He is going to star in a new action movie next year.”
In context“The studio announced that a relatively unknown actor would star in the upcoming biopic, surprising many industry critics.”
- 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to mark something with a star symbol to show it is important.
v.to mark or annotate a piece of text or an item with an asterisk or star-shaped symbol for emphasis or reference.
Simple“I starred the most important dates in my calendar so I wouldn't forget them.”
In context“Please star any sections of the contract that you find confusing so we can discuss them during our next meeting.”
UsageOften used in the passive voice or as a past participle.
Usage star names · stars formed · star light
* As a German and Jewish surname, from Star (“starling”). * Also as a German and Jewish surname, semantic loan from German Stern (“star”). * As a Dutch surname, from star (“stiff, rigid”). * As a Slovene surname, from star (“old”). * As an English given name, from star, sometimes originating as a nickname.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.