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Cygnus

American  
[sig-nuhs] / ˈsɪg nəs /

noun

Astronomy.

genitive

Cygni
  1. the Swan, a northern constellation southwest of Draco, containing the bright star Deneb.


Cygnus British  
/ ˈsɪɡnəs /

noun

  1. a constellation in the N hemisphere lying between Pegasus and Draco in the Milky Way. The constellation contains the Cygnus Loop supernova remnant, the intense radio galaxy Cygnus A, and the intense galactic X-ray source Cygnus X–1, which is probably a black hole

"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

Cygnus Scientific  
/ sĭgnəs /
  1. A constellation in the Northern Hemisphere near Cepheus and Lyra. Cygnus (the Swan, or the Northern Cross) contains the bright star Deneb.


Etymology

Origin of Cygnus

< Latin: swan; see cygnet

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.

At Amsterdam's Cygnus Gymnasium school, a fluorescent yellow sign on the school gates warns pupils streaming in on their bikes: "Attention: from this point on, your phone must be in your locker. Thank you."

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Kepler-51 is a star located about 2,615 light years away in the constellation Cygnus.

From Science Daily • Mar. 18, 2026

About 1,000 light years away in the constellation Cygnus, the nebula surrounds a hidden central star buried within a thick blanket of dust, resembling a glowing "yolk" inside a dark "egg white."

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2026

“We would argue with granted mining permits, a mill and all supporting infrastructure in place Cygnus should carry a multiple of the IAMGOLD/Northern Superior transaction,” Euroz Hartleys says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 22, 2025

In 1971, Uhuru discovered a remarkably bright X-ray source in the constellation of Cygnus, the Swan, flickering on and off a thousand times a second.

From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan