Altair

[al-tair, -tahy^uhr, al-tair, -tahyuhr]

noun

1. a first-magnitude star in the constellation Aquila.

Altair

/ ˈæltɛə /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Aquila. Visual magnitude: 0.77; spectral type: A7V; distance: 16.8 light years

Altair

1. A bright white star in the constellation Aquila. Altair is a main-sequence star in the Hertzprung-Russell diagram. It is the 12th brightest star in the night sky, with an apparent magnitude of 0.77. Altair, along with Vega and Deneb, form the Summer Triangle asterism. Scientific name: Alpha Aquilae.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altair¹

< Arabic ( al-nasr ) al-ṭā'ir (the) flying (eagle)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Altair¹

Arabic, from al the + tā'ir bird

Example Sentences

It all begins with the Summer Triangle, external, a bright three-cornered pattern of stars, called Vega, Deneb, and Altair.

From BBC

After Altair Jaspe moved from Venezuela to the Colombian capital, Bogotá, she was taken aback by the way she was addressed when she walked into any shop, cafe or doctor’s office.

From New York Times

In early summer, like now, Altair is roughly 30 degrees above the horizon, a third of the way to the zenith.

From Scientific American

"As a result of rocket fire, the Altair ice arena was destroyed," the statement said, following earlier reports of a missile hitting the town and injuring two people.

From Reuters

Altair Ibn-La'Ahad, the main protagonist of the Assassin's Creed series by Ubisoft, is still a Syrian assassin, but he has become an Arab hero.

From BBC