Meaning & use
Aristarchus
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Meanings
proper nounproper
An ancient Greek astronomer (c. 310–230 BCE) who argued that the Earth revolves around the Sun.
Grammar: A proper noun, so it is capitalized and usually has no article.
Patterns
- Aristarchus of Samos
- Aristarchus proposed that
Aristarchus of Samos suggested that the Sun, not the Earth, was at the center of the universe.
Historians credit Aristarchus with one of the earliest heliocentric theories.
Aristarchus's ideas were not widely accepted in his own time.
proper nounpropertechnical
A prominent crater on the Moon, named after the Greek astronomer.
Grammar: Used as a name; it takes no article and is capitalized.
Patterns
- the crater Aristarchus
- Aristarchus on the Moon
The crater Aristarchus is one of the brightest features on the Moon.
Astronomers observed a temporary bright spot near Aristarchus.
Aristarchus is a popular target for amateur astronomers.
Common combinations
- Aristarchus of Samos
- Aristarchus of Samos lived in the third century BCE.
- the crater Aristarchus
- The crater Aristarchus can be seen with a small telescope.
- Aristarchus's theory
- Aristarchus's theory placed the Sun at the center.
Commonly confused: Aristarchus or Aristotle? Aristarchus or Archimedes?
Aristarchus vs Aristotle
Aristotle was a Greek philosopher and scientist who lived later; Aristarchus was an astronomer known for a heliocentric model.
Aristarchus vs Archimedes
Archimedes was a Greek mathematician and inventor; Aristarchus was an astronomer.
Practice
What is Aristarchus best known for?
Choose one answer.
Aristarchus of Samos is famous for arguing that the Earth revolves around the Sun. The other options refer to Homer, the builders of the Parthenon, and Alexander the Great, not Aristarchus.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “Aristarchus”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.