ENGLISH
REFERENCE

stellar

adj.
US //ˈstɛɫɝ// UK //stˈɛlɐ// stel·lar
  1. 1 related to stars (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

    relating to the stars in the sky.

    pertaining to, consisting of, or characteristic of stars.

    Example

    The telescope allowed the scientists to study stellar evolution in distant galaxies.

    Example

    The observatory's new spectrograph provides unprecedented detail regarding the stellar composition of clusters located at the edge of the Milky Way.

    Usage

    In this sense, the word is non-gradable and typically appears before the noun.
  2. 2 excellent (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    exceptionally good or outstanding.

    exceptionally good; outstanding or featuring a high level of performance.

    Example

    The young actress gave a stellar performance in her first major film.

    Example

    Despite the economic downturn, the company reported stellar profits thanks to a series of strategic acquisitions in the tech sector.

    Teacher's tip

    This is a very common way to praise a professional or artistic achievement in modern English.
Origin

Borrowed from Latin stēllāris.

Word family

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