Castor

¹

[kas-ter, kah-ster]

noun

Astronomy.

1. a star of the second magnitude in the constellation Gemini, the more northerly of the two bright stars in this constellation.

castor

²

[kas-ter, kah-ster]

noun

1. Also a brownish, unctuous substance with a strong, penetrating odor, secreted by certain glands in the groin of the beaver, used in medicine and perfumery.

2. a hat made of beaver or rabbit fur.

3. a heavy woolen cloth used mainly for coats.

4. a beaver.

castor

¹

/ ˈkɑːstə /

noun

1. a variant spelling of caster caster

castor

²

/ ˈkɑːstə /

noun

1. the brownish aromatic secretion of the anal glands of a beaver, used in perfumery and medicine

2. the fur of the beaver

3. a hat made of beaver or similar fur

4. a less common name for beaver 1

Castor

³

/ ˈkɑːstə /

noun

1. the second brightest star, Alpha Geminorum, in the constellation Gemini: a multiple star consisting of six components lying close to the star Pollux. Distance: 52 light years

2. classical myth See Castor and Pollux

Castor

1. A bright multiple star in the constellation Gemini, with a combined apparent magnitude of 0.08. Scientific name: Alpha Geminorum.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Castor¹

Named after Castor; Castor and Pollux

Origin of Castor²

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin < Greek kástōr beaver

Word History and Origins

Origin of Castor¹

C14: from Latin, from Greek kastōr beaver

Example Sentences

“Measuring spoons, castor oil—blech!—a large cooking pot with a tight-fitting lid, moldy apples, goose fat, rinds of cheese...”

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India mainly exports rice, shrimp, honey, vegetable extracts, castor oil and black pepper, while the US sends almonds, walnuts, pistachios, apples and lentils.

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The invasive species they brought — like black mustard, tree tobacco and castor bean — slowly crept into the ecosystem.

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“Those, over there, are actually castor bean stalks,” Kleckner said as we zoomed past.

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Ricin is a highly toxic poison naturally derived from castor oil plants.

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