Betelgeuse

American  

[beet-l-jooz, bet-l-jœz] / ˈbit lˌdʒuz, ˈbɛt lˌdʒœz /

Or Betelgeux

noun

Astronomy.

1. a first-magnitude red supergiant in the constellation Orion.

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Betelgeuse British  

/ ˌbiːtəlˈdʒɜːz, ˈbiːtəlˌdʒɜːz /

noun

1. a very remote luminous red supergiant, Alpha Orionis: the second brightest star in the constellation Orion. It is a variable star

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Betelgeuse Scientific  

/ bēt′l-jo̅o̅z′ /

1. A red supergiant star in the constellation Orion. It is a variable star with a brightest apparent magnitude of 0.5. Scientific name: Alpha Orionis.

2. See Note at Rigel

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Etymology

Origin of Betelgeuse

1790–1800; < French < Arabic bīt al jauzāʾ shoulder of the giant (i.e., of Orion)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Betelgeuse

The wake appears shortly after the companion passes in front of Betelgeuse approximately every six years, or about 2,100 days, in agreement with earlier theoretical predictions.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 10, 2026

Betelgeuse is located about 650 light-years from Earth in the constellation Orion.

From Science Daily ● Jan. 10, 2026

Orion rises in the east after midnight, just to the north of its red-tinged star Betelgeuse.

From BBC ● Oct. 17, 2025

Betelgeuse is so huge, its radius is around 700 times more than the Sun.

From Space Scoop ● Aug. 20, 2025

Dad explained light-years and black holes and quasars and told us about the special qualities of Betelgeuse, Rigel, and Venus.

From "The Glass Castle" by Jeannette Walls