astral
Americanadjective
-
pertaining to or proceeding from the stars; stellar; star-shaped.
-
Biology. pertaining to, consisting of, or resembling an aster; having a discoid, radiate flower head.
-
Theosophy. having to do with a substance, unperceivable by the senses, that is believed to pervade space and to constitute a nonphysical body belonging to each individual.
adjective
-
relating to, proceeding from, consisting of, or resembling the stars
an astral body
-
biology of or relating to the aster occurring in dividing cells
-
theosophy denoting or relating to a supposed supersensible substance believed to form the material of a second body for each person, taking the form of an aura discernible to certain gifted individuals
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of astral
First recorded in 1595–1605; either from Middle French or directly from Late Latin astrālis, equivalent to Latin ast(rum) “star” (from Greek ástron ) + -ālis -al 1
Explanation
Astral is starlike or having to do with stars. You may wear your hair in a spiky, astral style, resembling the Statue of Liberty's crown. Astrum is Latin for "star," and it shows up in lots of familiar English words: astronomy, asteroid, astrology, even in the name of a sports stadium, the Astrodome. Astral navigation, also called celestial navigation, is the technique of finding your way by the stars. Consult your horoscope to learn what the astral influences have in store for you.
Vocabulary lists containing astral
Oh, My Stars! The Language of Outer Space
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Elements of the Universe: Aster, Astro ("Star")
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Florida's B.E.S.T. Roots: ast, aster, astro
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
She claims that she and Charlie often spoke not just of politics but of more intimate matters, including shared, shall we say, spiritual capabilities—third eye, astral projecting, that kind of thing.
From Slate ● Feb. 27, 2026
Described on its website as “a celestial pathway of lustrous light, cosmic visions, and astral song,” people walk through an immersive multimedia display that takes them on an imaginative journey of stars visiting Earth.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 29, 2023
The film skirts the more ethereal aspects of this work, at least until the end when the good doctor embarks on what looks like a form of astral projection.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 12, 2023
As a punk/alternative kid, noise was what originally pulled me into Sun Ra’s orbit, his use of terrestrial instrumentation to conjure sounds both astral and alien.
From New York Times ● Jan. 4, 2023
A group of guys started an "astral projection" circle, where they would sit around a card table and concentrate on breaking down all their molecules into subatomic material and drifting through the fences.
From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos
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.
