Algol
noun
a star of the second magnitude in the constellation Perseus: the first known and most famous eclipsing binary star.
Algol
1 American
[al-gol, -gawl]
/ ˈæl gɒl, -gɔl /
noun
ALGOL
2
American
[al-gol, -gawl]
/ ˈæl gɒl, -gɔl /
Computers.
Algol
1
British
/ ˈælɡɒl /
noun
Algol
2
British
/ ˈælɡɒl /
noun
Etymology
Origin of Algol1
1350–1400; Middle English < Arabic, equivalent to al the + ghūl ghoul; as translation of Greek (Ptolemy) gorgónion the head of the Gorgon Medusa, held by Perseus
Origin of ALGOL2
1955–60; algo(rithmic) l(anguage)
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 discovery that Algol is a spectroscopic binary verified Goodricke’s hypothesis.
From Textbooks ● Oct. 13, 2016
The star Algol, in the constellation of Perseus, changes its brightness in an odd but regular way.
From Textbooks ● Oct. 13, 2016
This all followed the exquisite experience of learning Algol using punch cards through the Michigan Terminal System running on Amdahl computers.
From Forbes ● Nov. 30, 2014
They also measured the changing light of stars such as Algol, and speculated that the regular dimming of Algol's light might have been caused by eclipses due to a "dark body," perhaps even a planet.
From BBC ● Dec. 18, 2012
The phenomena of the Algol stars are in many respects the most striking of any.
From A Plan for Securing Observations of the Variable Stars by E. C. Pickering
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.
