Meaning & use
constellation
Last updated
Meanings
nouncountable
A group of stars that forms a recognizable pattern in the night sky and is traditionally named after a figure, animal, or object.
Grammar: Countable; can be used with 'a' or in the plural: a constellation, many constellations.
Patterns
- a constellation of stars
- the constellation Orion
The constellation Orion is easy to spot in the winter sky.
Ancient sailors used constellations to navigate across the ocean.
The Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major.
nouncountablefigurative
A group of related people, ideas, or things that appear together or are associated in some way.
Grammar: Countable; often followed by 'of': a constellation of factors.
Patterns
- a constellation of something
The success of the project was due to a constellation of favorable circumstances.
A constellation of famous artists gathered at the gala.
The city is known for a constellation of excellent restaurants.
Word forms
| plural | constellations |
|---|
Common combinations
- star constellation
- The star constellation was named after a Greek myth.
- map of constellations
- He studied a map of constellations to learn the night sky.
- constellation of factors
- A constellation of factors led to the economic crisis.
- constellation of symptoms
- The doctor noted a constellation of symptoms that pointed to a specific illness.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- constellate verb
- To form or gather into a constellation or cluster.
Commonly confused: constellation or consternation?
constellation vs consternation
Consternation means a feeling of shock or dismay; constellation refers to a group of stars. They sound similar but are unrelated.
Practice
What is a constellation?
Choose one answer.
A constellation is a recognizable pattern of stars, not a single star, planet, or gas cloud.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “constellation”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.