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Circinus

American

[sur-suh-nuhs] / ˈsɜr sə nəs /

noun

Astronomy.

genitive

Circini

the Compasses, a small southern constellation between Triangulum and Centaurus.

Circinus British

/ ˈsɜːsɪnəs /

noun

a small faint constellation in the S hemisphere close to Centaurus and the Southern Cross

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of Circinus

Borrowed into English from Latin around 1830–40

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.

Located about 10,000 light-years away, this so-called "cosmic bat" appears to be gliding between the southern constellations of Circinus and Norma.

From Science Daily • Nov. 1, 2025

This cosmic bat was found on the southern hemisphere, flying between the constellations of Circinus and Norma.

From Space Scoop • Oct. 31, 2025

In February 2017, Broidy wrote to the Angolan defense minister discussing plans for a visit to Mar-a-Lago while also seeking payments from the nation’s government to his defense firm, Circinus.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 10, 2020

And Romanian and American officials have questioned a former Circinus executive in Romania.

From New York Times • Aug. 13, 2019

Other stars called V861 Scorpii, GX339-4, SS433, and Circinus X-2 are also candidate black holes.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023