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• libra
  libra

  noun

  the ancient Roman pound (containing 5053 grains or 327.4 grams).
• Libra
  Libra

  noun

  the Balance, a zodiacal constellation between Virgo and Serpens.

libra

¹ American  

[lahy-bruh, lee-] / ˈlaɪ brə, ˈli- /

noun

• librae
  plural

1. the ancient Roman pound (containing 5053 grains or 327.4 grams).

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libra ² American  

[lee-vrah] / ˈli vrɑ /

noun

• libras
  plural

1. sol.

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Libra ³ American  

[lee-bruh, lahy-] / ˈli brə, ˈlaɪ- /

noun

• Librae
  genitive

1. Astronomy. the Balance, a zodiacal constellation between Virgo and Serpens.

2. Astrology.

   1. the seventh sign of the zodiac: the cardinal air sign.

   2. Also Libran. a person born under this sign, usually between September 23rd and October 22nd.

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libra ¹ British  

/ ˈlaɪbrə /

noun

1. an ancient Roman unit of weight corresponding to 1 pound, but equal to about 12 ounces

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Libra ² British  

/ ˈliːbrə /

noun

1. astronomy a small faint zodiacal constellation in the S hemisphere, lying between Virgo and Scorpius on the ecliptic

2. astrology

   1. Also called: the Scales.   the Balance.  the seventh sign of the zodiac, symbol ♎, having a cardinal air classification and ruled by the planet Venus. The sun is in this sign between about Sept 23 and Oct 22

   2. a person born under this sign

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adjective

1. astrology born under or characteristic of Libra

Libra Scientific  

/ lē′brə /

1. A constellation in the Southern Hemisphere near Scorpius and Virgo. Libra (the Scales or Balance) is the seventh sign of the zodiac.

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Usage

What does Libra mean? Libra is the name of a constellation that is interpreted as representing a pair of scales. It is also known as the Scales or the Balance. A constellation is a group of stars that appear near each other in the sky—especially a group that has been given a name. Libra is considered one of the 12 zodiacal constellations—constellations that appear within a particular portion of the sky called the zodiac. In astronomy, the zodiac is the band of sky along which the paths of the sun, the moon, and the planets appear to move. Despite its basis in astronomy, the word zodiac is mainly associated with and most often used in the context of astrology, 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. In astrology, zodiac refers to a diagram (often a circular one) representing the zodiac belt and showing the symbols associated with each of the 12 constellations or sections, which are called the signs of the zodiac. Libra is one of these signs. It is situated between Virgo and Scorpio and is considered the seventh sign of the zodiac. The other signs of the zodiac are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. 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). People whose sign is Libra are those born between September 23 and October 22. The word Libra can be used as a noun to refer to someone who is born during this time, as in I was born in late October, so I’m a Libra. The word Libran can be used to mean the same thing. It can also be used as an adjective form of Libra. Example: Oh, your birthday is in October? Are you a Libra?

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• librae
  plural
• libras
  plural

Etymology

Origin of libra¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lībra

Origin of libra²

< Spanish < Latin lībra libra ¹

Origin of Libra³

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lībra literally, pair of scales, libra ¹

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

libra Libra librae libras Librae

Therefore, each centumpondium of this contains a third of a libra and a semi-uncia, a drachma, and the twenty-third part of a drachma of silver; from such copper it is profitable to separate the silver.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

Another is made of half a libra of brick dust, a third of a libra of rock salt, an uncia and a half of vitriol, and one uncia of saltpetre.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

—The origin of the sign of the dollar, concerning which T. C. inquires, is, I believe, a contraction of scutum, the same as £, formerly written £i, is of libra.

From Notes and Queries, Vol. III, Number 86, June 21, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various

To one centumpondium of the alloy is added a bes or a libra and a third of the powder, according to whether it is more or less impure.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

And if I have succeeded in making good this position we no longer stand in need of a precedent for the same reading in the case of—"In menez libra."

From Notes and Queries, Number 85, June 14, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various

The signs attributed to each profile were Virgo, Leo, and Libra.

From Slate ● May 5, 2026

Between March 3 and 5 four more vessels were struck: the Libra Trader, Gold Oak, Safeen Prestige and the Sonangol Namibe.

From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026

Cyber security researchers at CrowdStrike formed the name "Scattered Spider" because of the group's sporadic nature, but other cyber companies have given the cluster nicknames including Octo Tempest and Muddled Libra.

From BBC ● May 20, 2025

So much for a fun summer; she’s now learning the joys of a Los Angeles morning commute and cutthroat office politics at a fashion company called Libra.

From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2024

Librans would have to worry about dying from earth diseases, or carrying them back to Libra and infecting others.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins

Since from fifteen centumpondia of re-melted copper there was a total of four and a third librae and a semi-uncia of silver, there remain only two and a third librae.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

The third consists of four librae of vitriol, two and a half librae of saltpetre, half a libra of alum, and one and a half librae of spring water.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

Thus there is left in the "bottoms," weighing twenty-three centumpondia, a total of eight and three-quarter librae of silver.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

As to the recovery of the silver from the regulus, he states that 66 librae of silver give 132 librae of regulus.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

The second contains two librae of vitriol, one of saltpetre, and as much spring or river water by weight as will pass away whilst the vitriol is being reduced to powder by the fire.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Georgius Agricola

How do we know what libras or bitcoins are worth, or whether they’re worth anything?

From The New Yorker ● Jul. 29, 2019

On the fifth of the same month of May three libras of quicksilver were incorporated with three quintals of ore from the first hole and mouth opened near our fort, as above stated.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 20 of 55 1621-1624 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. by Emma Helen Blair

The other face bears the lines of Juvenal— 'Expende quot libras in duce summo invenies.

From My Recollections of Lord Byron by Sir Hubert E. H. (Hubert Edward Henry) Jerningham

On the twenty-ninth of April, three libras of quicksilver were incorporated with three quintals of ore obtained from a washing-place made by the Ygolotes below the openings, and near the preceding place.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 20 of 55 1621-1624 Explorations by early navigators, descriptions of the islands and their peoples, their history and records of the catholic missions, as related in contemporaneous books and manuscripts, showing the political, economic, commercial and religious conditions of those islands from their earliest relations with European nations to the close of the nineteenth century. by Emma Helen Blair

Breastwork of S. Pedro near the New Port One saker cast in Mexico, caliber five libras, length thirty-two calibers.

From The Philippine Islands, 1493-1898 — Volume 14 of 55 1606-1609 Explorations by Early Navigators, Descriptions of the Islands and Their Peoples, Their History and Records of The Catholic Missions, As Related in Contemporaneous Books and Manuscripts, Showing the Political, Economic, Commercial and Religious Conditions of Those Islands from Their Earliest Relations with European Nations to the Close of the Nineteenth Century by Emma Helen Blair

It was sighted at a point two degrees W. of a Librae at an angle of 431/2° with the horizon, and had been photographed, its elements calculated, its spectrum taken.

From The Lord of the Sea by M. P. (Matthew Phipps) Shiel