Arcturus

[ ahrk-toor-uhs, -tyoor- ]

noun

, Astronomy.

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

Arcturus

/ ɑːkˈtjʊərəs /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Boötes: a red giant. Visual magnitude: –0.4; spectral type: K2III; distance: 37 light years

Arcturus

/ ärk-tr′əs /

1. A giant star in the constellation Boötes. It is the brightest star in the Northern Hemisphere and the fourth brightest star in the sky, with an apparent magnitude of 0.00. Scientific name: Alpha Boötes.

Derived Forms

• Arcˈturian, adjective

Other Words From

• Arc·turi·an adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Arcturus¹

1352–75; < Latin < Greek Arktoûros, equivalent to árkt ( os ) bear + -oûros keeper; replacing Middle English arture < Middle French

Word History and Origins

Origin of Arcturus¹

C14: from Latin, from Greek Arktouros, from arktos bear + ouros guard, keeper

Example Sentences

The comet will be near Arcturus, which sits low on the horizon.

From Popular-Science

Arnold unveiled the Arcturus project in 1951, and the assignment soon expanded from home products to transportation and farming technologies.

From MIT Technology Review

Designs had to be optimized for Methanians, buildable using Earth materials and methods, and realistically functional within Arcturus’s parameters.

From MIT Technology Review

Even though the Arcturus project was only one piece of Arnold’s engineering course—other assignments focused on reimagining what he called “more prosaic, earthly designs” like railroad boxcars—industry and the media took notice.

From MIT Technology Review

Farmyards might host a horse named Arcturus or a chicken called Cleopatra.

From Washington Post

But a moment later he referred to the stupendous fact of Arcturus being fifty thousand times as big as the sun.

From Project Gutenberg

If the axis of the earth pointed toward Arcturus instead of Polaris, would the seasons be any different from what they are now?

From Project Gutenberg

Arcturus has been moving ever since the time of Job at the rate of probably more than 200 miles per second—possibly 300 miles.

From Project Gutenberg

Papilio Arcturus and some allied species, are of a golden-green, changing to blue, or to glowing purple.

From Project Gutenberg

Years ago, Arcturus and myself met a gentleman from China who knew the language.

From Project Gutenberg