# star

/ˈstɑɹ/ (US) · /stˈɑː/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. celestial body

noun · CEFR A1

a bright point of light in the night sky.

For teachers: a celestial body that appears as a luminous point in the night sky, specifically a massive ball of plasma undergoing nuclear fusion.

- We sat on the grass and looked at the stars in the clear night sky.
- The astronomer explained that many of the stars visible to the naked eye are actually much larger and brighter than our own sun.

### 2. famous person

noun · CEFR A2

a very famous and successful person, especially in films, music, or sports.

For teachers: a highly prominent or brilliant person in a specific field, typically within the entertainment or sports industries.

- She became a movie star after her first film was a huge success.
- The young athlete was hailed as a rising star by scouts after his record-breaking performance in the national championships.

### 3. the shape

noun · CEFR A2

a shape with five or more points coming out from the center.

For teachers: a conventionalised geometric figure with five or more radiating points.

- The teacher put a gold star on his homework because he did a great job.
- The national flag features a single white star centered on a blue background, symbolising unity and independence.

### 4. informal friend

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal · Dialect · British English

a friendly way to talk to a mate or a pal.

For teachers: a term of address for a friend or associate. Primarily used in specific urban dialects.

- Thanks for the help, star.
- In certain London neighbourhoods, you might hear someone call out to a friend by saying, 'Alright, star?' as a casual greeting.

Teaching tip: This usage is very regional and informal; learners should be aware of it but use 'mate' or 'friend' in most contexts.

### 5. to be the main performer

verb · CEFR B1

to be the main actor or performer in a movie or show.

For teachers: to play the principal role in a theatrical production, film, or television programme.

- He is going to star in a new action movie next year.
- The studio announced that a relatively unknown actor would star in the upcoming biopic, surprising many industry critics.

### 6. to mark with a symbol

verb · CEFR B2

to mark something with a star symbol to show it is important.

For teachers: to mark or annotate a piece of text or an item with an asterisk or star-shaped symbol for emphasis or reference.

- I starred the most important dates in my calendar so I wouldn't forget them.
- Please star any sections of the contract that you find confusing so we can discuss them during our next meeting.

Usage: Often used in the passive voice or as a past participle.

## Examples

- The stars look very bright tonight.
- Astronomers use powerful telescopes to study how stars are born and how they eventually die.
- While the sun is the closest star to Earth, the vast distances to other stellar bodies mean their light takes years to reach our atmosphere.

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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.