Astronomy. the Balance, a zodiacal constellation between Virgo and Serpens.
Astrology.
the seventh sign of the zodiac: the cardinal air sign.
Also Libran. a person born under this sign, usually between September 23rd and October 22nd.
astronomy a small faint zodiacal constellation in the S hemisphere, lying between Virgo and Scorpius on the ecliptic
astrology
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
a person born under this sign
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?
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lībra
< Spanish < Latin lībra libra 1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lībra literally, pair of scales, libra 1
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When the lead has been liquated from the copper, it weighs six centumpondia, in each centumpondium of which there is a quarter of a libra and almost a sicilicus of silver.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
The gold solidus of the German system originally weighed less than the Frankish, which was 72 to the libra, while the German was 80 to the libra.
From The History of Currency, 1252 to 1896 by Shaw, William Arthur
The third consists of three librae of vitriol, one of saltpetre, half a libra of asbestos, and half a libra of baked bricks.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
In the exhausted liquation cakes there remain a third of a libra and a semi-uncia of silver.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
As the Roman libra contains 12 unciae and the German pfundt 16 untzen, the actual weights of these latter quantities are still further apart—the former 4946 and the latter 7219 Troy grains.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
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
Despite the aura they may cultivate and project, a Libra belongs to nobody and nothing but the wind.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2024
Perhaps a trip from Libra to one of the asteroids would bring back materials rich in carbon and nitrogen.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
In this way every week, if the work is for six days, thirty-six centumpondia of cakes are made and three centumpondia of alloy, in all of which there is often almost twenty-four librae of silver.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
It is found in lumps, in shafts as well, sometimes even exceeding ten librae in weight.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
Therefore the four liquation cakes contain two and a third librae of silver.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
An example of the penalty of 5 pounds of gold is quoted from a decree of 960; and the penalty is sometimes expressed "auri purissimi librae 5."
From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Yule, Henry
The capacity of the tests, from 15 librae to 50 librae, would be from about 155 to 515 ozs.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
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 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.
Two catapults, new Manila casting, caliber twenty libras.
The other face bears the lines of Juvenal— 'Expende quot libras in duce summo invenies.
From My Recollections of Lord Byron by Jerningham, Hubert E. H. (Hubert Edward Henry), Sir
Whose duty is it to check the volubility of Mr. Alfred Jingle, or to weigh the heaviness, quot libras, of the Fat Boy?
From Dickens English Men of Letters by Ward, Adolphus William, Sir
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 Shiel, M. P. (Matthew Phipps)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
