Canis Major

American  

[key-nis mey-jer] / ˈkeɪ nɪs ˈmeɪ dʒər /

noun

Astronomy.

genitive

Canis Majoris

1. the Great Dog, a southern constellation between Puppis and Orion, containing Sirius, the Dog Star, the brightest of the stars.

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Canis Major British  

/ ˈkeɪnɪs /

noun

1. Also called: the Great Dog.  a constellation in the S hemisphere close to Orion, containing Sirius, the brightest star in the sky

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Canis Major Scientific  

/ kā′nĭs /

1. A constellation in the Southern Hemisphere near Orion. Canis Major (the Greater Dog) contains Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.

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Etymology

Origin of Canis Major

< Latin: larger dog

Example Sentences

For binoculars and telescopes, Canis Major is rich in star clusters.

From National Geographic

Canis Major and Canis Minor are the constellations named for Orion's two hunting dogs.

From Salon

Below Gemini, you can spy the bright Sirius, the dog star in the constellation Canis Major.

From Washington Post

As Bill explained: “Procyon is the main star in the constellation Canis Minor, i.e., the lesser dog as compared with the constellation Canis Major.”

From Washington Post

Sirius comes from a Greek word that means “glowing” or “scorching,” and it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, which means large or greater dog.

From Los Angeles Times