horoscope

American  

[hawr-uh-skohp, hor‑] / ˈhɔr əˌskoʊp, ˈhɒr‑ /

noun

1. a diagram of the heavens, showing the relative position of planets and the signs of the zodiac, for use in calculating births, foretelling events in a person's life, etc.

2. a prediction of future events or advice for future behavior based on such a diagram.

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horoscope British  

/ ˈhɒrəˌskəʊp, ˌhɒrəˈskɒpɪk /

noun

1. the prediction of a person's future based on a comparison of the zodiacal data for the time of birth with the data from the period under consideration

2. the configuration of the planets, the sun, and the moon in the sky at a particular moment

3. Also called: chart.  a diagram showing the positions of the planets, sun, moon, etc, at a particular time and place

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Other Word Forms

• horoscopic
  adjective
• unhoroscopic
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of horoscope

before 1050; Middle English, Old English horoscopus < Latin < Greek hōroskópos, equivalent to hōro-, combining form of hṓra hour + skópos -scope

Compare meaning

How does horoscope compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• horoscope vs. zodiac

Explanation

You can usually read your daily horoscope in the local newspaper. A horoscope is a forecast of your future based on the month in which you were born. Some people believe that a horoscope is a real way to divine the future; they think that traits and circumstances are determined from the position of the planets at the exact moment of a person's birth. Others enjoy reading their horoscopes just for fun. The word horoscope has a Greek root, hōroskopos, combining hōra, "time or hour," and skopos, "observer or watching." A horoscope, in other words, is something that watches the hour of one's birth.

Example Sentences

Horoscope astrology began to resurface around the 1920s, Campion says, with regular newspaper columns describing predictions for the 12 zodiac signs.

From National Geographic • Aug. 24, 2023

And Last: Horoscope: To focus on your favorite interest to the exclusion of all else isn’t exactly healthy.

From Washington Post • Aug. 26, 2021

She said she was determined to make sure My First Horoscope didn’t give Scorpio babies a bad rap.

From Slate • Aug. 20, 2020

Horoscope: “You have a hobby you love, so make it okay to dedicate some hours to this pastime.”

From Washington Post • Nov. 17, 2016

But much of course depends upon the Horoscope at birth as to what aspects are formed by direction for the year inquired of.

From Manual of the Enumeration A Text Book on the Sciences of the Enumeration by Coffman, C. J.

Related Words

• astrology