Pleiades

[ plee-uh-deez, plahy- ]

plural noun

1. Classical Mythology. seven daughters of Atlas and half sisters of the Hyades, placed among the stars to save them from the pursuit of Orion. One of them (the Lost Pleiad ) hides, either from grief or shame.
2. Astronomy. a conspicuous group or cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus, commonly spoken of as seven, though only six are visible.

Pleiades

¹

/ ˈplaɪəˌdiːz /

plural noun

1. See Hyades
   a young conspicuous open star cluster approximately 370 light years away in the constellation Taurus, containing several thousand stars only six or seven of which are visible to the naked eye Compare Hyades 1

Pleiades

²

/ ˈplaɪəˌdiːz /

plural noun

1. Greek myth the seven daughters of Atlas, placed as stars in the sky either to save them from the pursuit of Orion or, in another account, after they had killed themselves for grief over the death of their half-sisters the Hyades

Pleiades

/ plē′ə-dēz′ /

1. A loose collection of several hundred stars in the constellation Taurus, at least six of which are visible to the unaided eye.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Pleiades¹

1350–1400; Middle English Pliades < Latin Plīades < Greek Pleíades (singular Pleías ); akin to pleîn to sail

Example Sentences

The harvest is about the time of the setting of the Pleiades, and the grain is beaten out like barley.

From Project Gutenberg

The Hours, the rosy sister goddesses, joined in her grief, and the shining Pleiades veiled their faces in sorrow.

From Project Gutenberg

Now there are only six stars in the constellation called the Pleiades, and the little sister is constantly searching for them.

From Project Gutenberg

Canst thou bind the sweet influences of Pleiades (Kīmah), or loose the bands of Orion?

From Project Gutenberg

This season being marked by the acronical rising of the Pleiades, that group has become associated with such observances.

From Project Gutenberg