star

pronunciation

How to pronounce star in British English: UK [stɑː(r)] word uk audio image

How to pronounce star in American English: US [stɑːr] word us audio image

Noun:

(astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior
someone who is dazzlingly skilled in any field
any celestial body visible (as a point of light) from the Earth at night
a plane figure with 5 or more points; often used as an emblem
an actor who plays a principal role
a performer who receives prominent billing
a star-shaped character * used in printing
the topology of a network whose components are connected to a hub
Verb:

feature as the star
be the star in a performance
mark with an asterisk
Adjective:

indicating the most important performer or role

Word Origin

star: star: [OE] Star is a general Germanic word, with relatives in German stern, Dutch ster, Swedish stjärna, and Danish stjerne. These were all descended from a prehistoric Germanic base *ster-, which had come down unaltered from Indo-European *ster- ‘star’, source also of Latin stēlla ‘star’ (from which English gets stellar [16]) and Greek astér ‘star’ (from which English gets asterisk, astronomy, disaster, etc).The ultimate source of the Indo-European base is not known for certain, but the traditional view is that it comes from the base *ster- ‘spread out’, the underlying notion being of the stars ‘spread out’ in the sky. Sterling ‘British money’ was originally named from the design of a small ‘star’ on a coin, but starling is not etymologically related. The modern sense of star, ‘leading performer’, is first recorded in the early 19th century.=> asterisk, astronomy, disaster, stellar, sterling

star (n.): Old English steorra "star," from Proto-Germanic *sterron, *sternon (cognates: Old Saxon sterro, Old Frisian stera, Dutch ster, Old High German sterro, German Stern, Old Norse stjarna, Swedish stjerna, Danish stierne, Gothic stairno). This is from PIE *ster- (2) "star" (cognates: Sanskrit star-, Hittite shittar, Greek aster, astron, Latin stella, Breton sterenn, Welsh seren "star"), of uncertain connection to other roots. Some suggest it is from a root meaning "to strew, scatter." Buck and others doubt the old suggestion that it is a borrowing from Akkadian istar "venus." The source of the common Balto-Slavic word for "star" (Lithuanian žvaigžde, Old Church Slavonic zvezda, Polish gwiazda, Russian zvezda) is not explained. Astrological sense of "influence of planets and zodiac on human affairs" is recorded from mid-13c., hence "person's fate as figured in the stars" (c. 1600); star-crossed "ill-fated" is from "Romeo and Juliet" (1592). Meaning "lead performer" is from 1824; star turn is from 1898. Stars as a ranking of quality for hotels, restaurants, etc. are attested from 1886, originally in Baedecker guides. Sticker stars as rewards for good students are recorded from 1970s. Brass star as a police badge is recorded from 1859 (New York City). Star-cluster is from 1870. To see stars when one is hit hard on the head is from 1839.

star (v.): 1590s, "to affix a star or asterisk to," from star (n.). From 1718 as "to set with stars." Meaning "perform the lead part" (of actors, singers, etc.) is from 1824. Sporting sense is from 1916. Related: Starred; starring.

vt.