Altair

[ al-tair, -tahyuhr, al-tair, -tahyuhr ]

noun

1. a first-magnitude star in the constellation Aquila.

Altair

/ ˈæltɛə /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Aquila. Visual magnitude: 0.77; spectral type: A7V; distance: 16.8 light years

Altair

/ ăl-târ′,-tīr′ /

1. A bright white star in the constellation Aquila. Altair is a main-sequence star in the Hertzprung-Russell diagram. It is the 12th brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of 0.77. Altair, along with Vega and Deneb, form the Summer Triangle asterism. Scientific name: Alpha Aquilae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altair¹

< Arabic ( al-nasr ) al-ṭā'ir (the) flying (eagle)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altair¹

Arabic, from al the + tā'ir bird

Example Sentences

Above him was the enormous triangle formed by Deneb, Vega, and Altair.

From Project Gutenberg

When he arrived, the Altair officers were already there, a score of correct young men in white dress uniforms.

From Project Gutenberg

Altair came to me and kept me stirred up till nearly two o'clock.

From Project Gutenberg

In his musing upon Altair he began to remember some very curious details.

From Project Gutenberg

Nothing explains Altair—nor that moaning wind—nor the writing on the slates.

From Project Gutenberg