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zodiac
[ zoh-dee-ak ]
noun
- none the zodiac or the Zodiac, an imaginary belt of the heavens, extending about 8° on each side of the ecliptic, within which are the apparent paths of the sun, moon, and principal planets. It contains twelve constellations and hence twelve divisions called signs of the zodiac. Each division, however, because of the precession of the equinoxes, now contains the constellation west of the one from which it took its name.
- a circular or elliptical diagram representing this belt, and usually containing pictures of the animals, human figures, etc., that are associated with the constellations and signs.
- Informal. sign of the zodiac:
I checked out the zodiacs of some of my friends and was surprised at how well the descriptions captured aspects of their personalities.
- a circuit or round.
zodiac
/ zəʊˈdaɪəkəl; ˈzəʊdɪˌæk /
noun
- an imaginary belt extending 8° either side of the ecliptic, which contains the 12 zodiacal constellations and within which the moon and planets appear to move. It is divided into 12 equal areas, called signs of the zodiac , each named after the constellation which once lay in it See zodiacal constellation
- astrology a diagram, usually circular, representing this belt and showing the symbols, illustrations, etc, associated with each of the 12 signs of the zodiac, used to predict the future
- rare.a complete circuit; circle
zodiac
/ ³úÅ′»åŧ-ă°ì′ /
- A band of the celestial sphere extending about eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic , representing the portion of the sky within which the paths of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets are found. In astrology, the zodiac is divided into 12 equal segments, each of which is named after a constellation through which the ecliptic passes in that region of the sky. The traditional beginning point of constellations is Aries, followed in calendrical order by Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
- See also equinox
zodiac
1- A band of the sky along which the sun , the moon , and most of the planets move. It is divided into twelve parts, with each part named for a nearby constellation .
zodiac
2- The imaginary band in the sky through which the sun , the moon , and the planets appear to move. The twelve constellations in the band (Aquarius, Pisces, and so on) are the familiar signs of the zodiac used in astrology .
Notes
Derived Forms
- zodiacal, adjective
Other ˜yÐÄvlogs From
- ³ú´Ç·»å¾±Â·²¹Â·³¦²¹±ô [zoh-, dahy, -, uh, -k, uh, l], adjective
- non·³ú´Ç·»å¾±Â·²¹Â·³¦²¹±ô adjective
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
˜yÐÄvlog History and Origins
Origin of zodiac1
Compare Meanings
How does zodiac compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Example Sentences
He added emojis representing the zodiac signs Aries, Pisces and Gemini.
Linda does not believe in the predestination of zodiac signs, but there is nothing stopping her from choosing to represent her own, at her own free will.
On the night of his first dinner, Brown, a self-described introvert, was “super nervous†as Timeleft provides participants with limited details about who they will be dining with, including their job industry and zodiac sign.
Their cousin sign, Aquarius, often shoulders the reputation of being the unicorn of the zodiac, but it is Sagittarius that is just as, and sometimes more so, elusive and audacious.
He leans over a display case containing a 14th century book on the zodiac and starts to read aloud from its object label.
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More About Zodiac
What doesÌýzodiac mean?
In astronomy, the zodiac is the band of sky along which the paths of the sun, the moon, and the planets appear to move.
The zodiac can be divided into 12 sections, each of which is named after a constellation (called a zodiacal constellation). These include Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius (Scorpio), Sagittarius, and Capricornus (Capricorn).
Despite its basis in astronomy, the word zodiac is mainly associated with and most often used in the context of astrology, in which it refers to a diagram (often a circular one) representing this belt and showing the symbols associated with each of the 12 constellations or sections, which are called the signs of the zodiac.Ìý
Astrology is the nonscientific practice in which the positions of heavenly bodies at certain times are thought to influence or be correlated with human behavior and events. For example, the position of the sun in a particular portion of the zodiac at the moment of a person’s birth is thought to correlate with their personality. This is what people are referring to when they talk about their zodiac sign (or star sign or often just sign). The word horoscope can refer to a diagram of the heavens that maps the relative position of planets and the signs of the zodiac. It can also refer to a prediction based (or said to be based) on such a diagram.
The symbols used in Western astrology differ in some other cultures. For example, different ones are used in the Chinese zodiac.
Example: Apparently, my wife and I have zodiac signs that are supposed to be very incompatible—oh well, we get along great!
Where doesÌýzodiac come from?
The first records of the word zodiac come from around the 1300s. It comes from the Greek ³úÅidiakòs (kuklos), meaning “(circle) of signs.†It ultimately comes from ³úÅidion, meaning “animal sign†or “carved figure, from ³úÅion, “a²Ô¾±³¾²¹±ô.â€
When ancient people looked up in the sky, they saw patterns in the stars that they thought looked like animals and other figures, such as a bull (Taurus), a lion (Leo), a scorpion (Scorpio), and an archer (Sagittarius). These patterns are what we call constellations, and some of them appear in what’s called the zodiac. All of this involved (and became part of) ancient mythology and the practice of trying to interpret events based on the position of heavenly bodies (which we now call astrology).
Turn your sights toward this article to learn more about each of the astrological signs of the zodiac.
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to zodiac?
Ìý
- zodiacal (adjective)
Ìý
- nonzodiacal (adjective)
What are some words that share a root or word element with zodiac?Ìý
What are some words that often get used in discussing zodiac?
Ìý
How isÌýzodiac used in real life?
The word zodiac is most commonly used in the context of astrology, especially in the discussion of signs of the zodiac.
There are no major planetary aspects happening today, but the Sun is in the middle of transiting a part of the zodiac (15* Libra – 15* Scorpio) called the Via Combusta. This is supposedly an especially intense span of degrees. The ancients called it the "fiery path".
— starheal (@starheal)
Bryan Francisco's creative makeup art has gone viral on TikTok after he used handmade plastic head pieces, clay, airbrushes and gold-flecked paint to represent the different signs of the Zodiac.
— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto)
This tablet was part of a set studying the twelve signs of the zodiac that the Mesopotamians recognized in the stars and which corresponded to the twelve months of the year that we have inherited.
— Puratatva – The Histories (@purahistories)
Ìý
Try usingÌýzodiac!
Which of the following constellations is NOT considered a sign of the zodiac?
A. Aquarius
B. Pisces
C. Orion
D. Aries
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