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star

To set or adorn with stars, or bright, radiating bodies; to bespangle; as, a robe starred with gems. A sable curtain starred with gold.

Origin: Starred; Starring.

1. One of the innumerable luminous bodies seen in the heavens; any heavenly body other than the sun, moon, comets, and nebulae. His eyen twinkled in his head aright, As do the stars in the frosty night. (Chaucer)

The stars are distinguished as planets, and fixed stars. See Planet, Fixed stars under Fixed, and magnitude of a star under Magnitude.

2. The polestar; the north star.

3. (Science: astronomy) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny; (usually pl) a configuration of the planets, supposed to influence fortune. O malignant and ill-brooding stars. (Shak) Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury. (Addison)

4. That which resembles the figure of a star, as an ornament worn on the breast to indicate rank or honor. On whom . . . Lavish Honor showered all her stars. (Tennyson)

5. Specifically, a radiated mark in writing or printing; an asterisk [thus, ]; used as a reference to a note, or to fill a blank where something is omitted, etc.

6. (Science: chemistry) A composition of combustible matter used in the heading of rockets, in mines, etc, which, exploding of a air, presents a starlike appearance.

7. A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially on public occasions, as a distinguished orator, a leading theatrical performer, etc.

Star is used in the formation of compound]] words generally or obvious signification: as, star-aspiring, star-bespangled, star-bestudded, star-blasting, star-bright, star-crowned, star-directed, star-eyed, star-headed, star-paved, star-roofed; star-sprinkled, star-wreathed. Blazing star, double star, multiple star, shooting star, etc. See Blazing, Double, etc.

(Science: astronomy) nebulous star, a small well-defined circular nebula, having a bright nucleus at its center like a star.

(Science: botany) Star anise, a polygon whose sides cut each other so as to form a star-shaped figure. Stars and stripes, a popular name for the flag of the united states, which consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, alternately red and white, and a union having, in a blue field, white stars to represent the several States, one for each. With the old flag, the true American flag, the eagle, and the Stars and Stripes, waving over the chamber in which we sit. (D. Webster) Star showers. See shooting star, under Shooting.

(Science: botany) Star thistle, an aquatic plant (Schollera graminea) with small yellow starlike blossoms.

Origin: OE. Sterre, AS. Steorra; akin to OFries. Stera, OS. Sterro, D. Ster, OHG. Sterno, sterro, G. Stern, Icel. Stjarna, Sw. Stjerna, Dan. Stierne, Goth. Stairno, Armor. & Corn. Stern, L. Stella, Gr, Skr. Star; perhaps from a root meaning, to seater, Skr. St, L. Sternere (cf. Stratum), and originally applied to the stars as beingstrewn over the sky, or as beingscatterers or spreaders of light. 296. Cf. Aster, Asteroid, Constellation, Disaster, Stellar.