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Octans

American  
[ok-tanz] / ˈɒk tænz /

noun

Astronomy.

genitive

Octantis
  1. the Octant, a southern constellation that contains the south celestial pole.


Octans British  
/ ˈɒktænz /

noun

  1. a faint constellation in the S hemisphere in which the S celestial pole is situated

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Octans

< Late Latin: eighth part of a circle, equivalent to oct- oct- + -āns, as in quadrāns quadrant

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The deals, called Norma C.D.O. and Octans 1 C.D.O., which were sold in 2006 and 2007, had a combined face value of $3 billion.

From New York Times • Dec. 12, 2013

Orena thought of a thousand centuries budding and withering, and called him Octans.

From Time Magazine Archive

Octans neatly despatched a ghost leopard that infested their paradise and all was serene until she asked him to pick a certain blue lotus.

From Time Magazine Archive

Their very names were disingenuous, and told you nothing about their contents, their creators, or their managers: Carina, Gemstone, Octans III, Glacier Funding.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

Indus.—This constellation lies north of Octans, and south of Sagittarius, Microscopium, and Grus.

From Astronomical Curiosities Facts and Fallacies by Gore, J. Ellard