# Venus

/ˈvinəs/ (US)

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

## Senses

### 1. the planet

noun · CEFR B1

the second planet from the sun in our solar system, which is very bright in the sky.

For teachers: the second planet from the Sun, notable for its brightness and dense, carbon-dioxide-rich atmosphere.

- Venus is often the brightest object in the night sky after the moon.
- Because its orbit is closer to the sun than Earth's, Venus never appears to venture far from the sun in the morning or evening sky.

Usage: Always capitalized when referring to the planet.

### 2. the Roman goddess

noun · CEFR B2

the ancient Roman goddess of love, beauty, and gardens.

For teachers: the Roman deity associated with love, beauty, fertility, and victory, equivalent to the Greek goddess Aphrodite.

- The ancient Romans built many temples to honor Venus.
- In classical mythology, Venus was the mother of Aeneas, making her a central figure in the legendary founding of Rome.

Usage: Always capitalized when referring to the deity.

### 3. ancient statuette

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a very old, small statue of a woman, usually from thousands of years ago.

For teachers: any Upper Palaeolithic statuette portraying a woman, typically characterized by exaggerated physical features.

- The museum has a famous Venus figurine that is over 25,000 years old.
- Archaeologists debate whether the Venus of Willendorf was a fertility symbol or a self-depiction by a female artist.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'Venus figurine'.

### 4. artistic depiction

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a painting or statue of a beautiful woman, often shown without clothes.

For teachers: an artistic depiction of an idealized or erotic nude woman, typically within a mythological or classical framework.

- Botticelli's painting shows the birth of Venus on a giant shell.
- The gallery contains several Renaissance Venuses that demonstrate the changing standards of beauty over the centuries.

## Examples

- Venus is often visible just after sunset.
- Because its thick clouds reflect so much sunlight, Venus appears as a brilliant white point of light to the naked eye.
- The spacecraft had to withstand immense atmospheric pressure and corrosive sulfuric acid clouds to transmit data from the surface of Venus.

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