pole star
Meanings
noun
- The star visible to the naked eye which was in the past, is now, or will be in the future nearest a celestial pole of a planet.
- A person, principle, or thing which acts as a guide; a guiding light; also, something which attracts much attention; a centre of attention.
name
- Synonym of North Star, the current northern pole star, which has been Polaris for the last 1500 years.
Pronunciation
Word forms
Etymology
From pole (“either of the two points on the Earth’s surface around which it rotates; similar points on any other rotating object”) + star, possibly a calque of Latin stēllam polārem (“the Pole Star”).
Synonyms
Related words
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