ENGLISH
REFERENCE

star

n. countable
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈstɑɹ// UK //stˈɑː// star General-service

n. a huge ball of burning gas in space that looks like a tiny point of light in the night sky. You can also use this word for a famous person or a shape with five or more points.

n. a massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by its own gravity, visible as a point of light in the night sky. Also used to describe a high-profile celebrity or a geometric figure with radiating points.


SIMPLE

The stars look very bright tonight.

CONTEXTUAL

Astronomers use powerful telescopes to study how stars are born and how they eventually die.

COMPLEX

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.

Synonyms
Origin

* 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.

Usage

Often used as a modifier in compound nouns like 'star player' or 'star witness' to indicate excellence or importance.

Idioms5 entries

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