constellation — English Dictionary

Noun

1. An arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure (especially one from mythology) or pattern, or a division of the sky including it, especially one officially recognized by astronomers; an asterism.

   Examples

   More examples (7)

   Behold, the day of the Lord commeth, cruell both with wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land deſolate; and he ſhall deſtroy the ſinners thereof out of it. For the ſtarres of heauen, and the conſtellations thereof ſhall not giue their light: the ſunne ſhalbe darkened in his going forth, and the moone ſhall not cauſe her light to ſhine.

   Up, up, faire Bride, and call, / Thy ſtarres, from out their ſeverall boxes, take / Thy Rubies, Pearles, and Diamonds forth, and make / Thy ſelfe a conſtellation, of them All.

   Next the cold Bears, (the Cauſe t' himſelf beſt knovvn) / Shines forth a kneeling Conſtellation. / Behind vvhoſe Back Arctophylax appears, / The ſame Boötes call'd, becauſe yoak'd Steers / He ſeeming drives; vvho through the rapid Skies / (Bearing Arcturus in his Boſome) hies.

   Harpa Georgii, or the Harp of George, is a new constellation introduced on the maps by one of the German astronomers, in honour of the late king of England, George III.

   Who can doubt that poetry will revive and lead in a new age, as the star in the constellation Harp, which now flames in our zenith, astronomers announce, shall one day be the pole-star for a thousand years?

   Located 11,000 light-years away in the northern constellation Cassiopeia, Cas A is the remnant of a once massive star that died in a violent explosion 325 years ago.

   There was a time when the soft glow of barn lights dotted Wisconsin’s rural landscape like stars in a constellation, connecting families who labored into the night milking cows, feeding calves and finishing chores.

2. An arbitrary formation of stars perceived as a figure (especially one from mythology) or pattern, or a division of the sky including it, especially one officially recognized by astronomers; an asterism. Any of the 88 regions of the sky officially recognized by the International Astronomical Union, including all stars and celestial bodies in the region.

   Usage

   • modern

3. A configuration or grouping of related things.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   [T]he program AppleWorks for the Apple IIe was released circa 1984. It combined a spreadsheet, database, and word processing program into one easy-to-use, low-cost integrated software package. This software constellation persists today as Microsoft Office, the most popular software tool set in history.

4. A configuration or grouping of related things. A wide, seemingly unlimited, assortment.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   a constellation of possibilities

   More examples (2)

   Theſe amorous Perſons may be, I grant, very much delighted vvhen they first gaze upon a Conſtellation of fair Ladies, but the Heart commonly pays dear for the Pleaſure of the Eye, […]

   Throughout the 1500s, the populace roiled over a constellation of grievances of which the forest emerged as a key focal point. The popular late Middle Ages fictional character Robin Hood, dressed in green to symbolize the forest, dodged fines for forest offenses and stole from the rich to give to the poor. But his appeal was painfully real and embodied the struggle over wood.

5. A configuration or grouping of related things. An array of marks or items.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   He had a constellation of bruises on his side.

   A constellation of blood had sprayed onto the wall.

6. A configuration or grouping of related things. Synonym of complex (“a collection of ideas caused by repressed emotions that leads to an abnormal mental condition”).

   Usage

   • Figurative

7. A configuration or grouping of related things. A network of connections between people who are in polyamorous relationships, for example between a person, their partner, and that person's partner.

   Usage

   • Figurative

8. A configuration or grouping of related things. A fleet of satellites used for the same purpose.

   Usage

   • Figurative

   Examples

   More examples (1)

   The Iridium satellite constellation provides data and voice information coverage to satellite phones and other communication devices over the entire surface of Earth.

   With its Starlink program, SpaceX hopes to launch a constellation of as many as 42,000 satellites to provide Internet service to the world.

9. The configuration of planets at a given time (especially a person's birth), as believed to affect events on Earth, or used for determining a horoscope.

   Usage

   • Obsolete

   Examples

   More examples (2)

   But alas such peruerse constellation nowe reigneth ouer men, that where some be aptely and naturally disposed to amitie, and fyndeth one, in similitude of studie and maners, equall to his expectation, and therfore kendeleth a feruent loue towarde that persone, puttinge all his ioye and delite in the praise and auauncement of him that he loueth, it hapneth that he which is loued, beinge promoted in honour, either of purpose neglecteth his frende, therby suppressynge libertie of speche or familiar resorte; or els esteming his mynde with his fortune onely, and nat with the suertie of frendship, hideth from him the secretes of his harte, and either trusteth no man, or els him whome prosperous fortune hath late brought in acquaintaunce.

   [H]e was born under the constellation that gives a man skill, riches, and integrity, whatever that constellation may be, which is of the less consequence because babies can't choose their own horoscopes, and, indeed, if they could, there might be an inconvenient rush of babies at particular epochs.

10. A person's character or inclinations, supposedly determined by their horoscope.

    Usage

    • Obsolete

    Examples

    I knovv thy conſtellation is right apt / For this affayre: […]

Noun

1. an arrangement of parts or elements

   Synonyms

   configuration

   Broader terms

   designplan

   Examples

   the outcome depends on the configuration of influences at the time

2. a configuration of stars as seen from the earth

   Broader terms

   natural object