Astronomy. the Balance, a zodiacal constellation between Virgo and Serpens.
Astrology.
the seventh sign of the zodiac: the cardinal air sign.
Also Libran. a person born under this sign, usually between September 23rd and October 22nd.
astronomy a small faint zodiacal constellation in the S hemisphere, lying between Virgo and Scorpius on the ecliptic
astrology
Also called: the Scales. the Balance. the seventh sign of the zodiac, symbol ♎, having a cardinal air classification and ruled by the planet Venus. The sun is in this sign between about Sept 23 and Oct 22
a person born under this sign
What does Libra mean? Libra is the name of a constellation that is interpreted as representing a pair of scales. It is also known as the Scales or the Balance. A constellation is a group of stars that appear near each other in the sky—especially a group that has been given a name. Libra is considered one of the 12 zodiacal constellations—constellations that appear within a particular portion of the sky called the zodiac. In astronomy, the zodiac is the band of sky along which the paths of the sun, the moon, and the planets appear to move. Despite its basis in astronomy, the word zodiac is mainly associated with and most often used in the context of astrology, the nonscientific practice in which the positions of heavenly bodies at certain times are thought to influence or be correlated with human behavior and events. In astrology, zodiac refers to a diagram (often a circular one) representing the zodiac belt and showing the symbols associated with each of the 12 constellations or sections, which are called the signs of the zodiac. Libra is one of these signs. It is situated between Virgo and Scorpio and is considered the seventh sign of the zodiac. The other signs of the zodiac are Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces. The position of the sun in a particular portion of the zodiac at the moment of a person’s birth is thought to correlate with their personality. This is what people are referring to when they talk about their zodiac sign (or star sign or often just sign). People whose sign is Libra are those born between September 23 and October 22. The word Libra can be used as a noun to refer to someone who is born during this time, as in I was born in late October, so I’m a Libra. The word Libran can be used to mean the same thing. It can also be used as an adjective form of Libra. Example: Oh, your birthday is in October? Are you a Libra?
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lībra
< Spanish < Latin lībra libra 1
1350–1400; Middle English < Latin lībra literally, pair of scales, libra 1
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
—The origin of the sign of the dollar, concerning which T. C. inquires, is, I believe, a contraction of scutum, the same as £, formerly written £i, is of libra.
From Notes and Queries, Vol. III, Number 86, June 21, 1851 A Medium of Inter-communication for Literary Men, Artists, Antiquaries, Geneologists, etc. by Various
With each libra of this powdered compound one and a half unciae of the copper is gradually sprinkled into a hot crucible, and it is stirred rapidly and frequently with an iron rod.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
The ninth contains two librae of powder of baked bricks, one libra of vitriol, likewise one libra of saltpetre, a handful of salt, and three-quarters of a libra of spring water.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
The eighth method consists of heating together one libra of the copper, one and a half librae of sulphur, half a libra of verdigris, and a libra of refined salt.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
The alloy when cooled is again crushed to powder, one libra of which is absorbed by four pounds of molten silver.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
The signs attributed to each profile were Virgo, Leo, and Libra.
From Slate ● May 5, 2026
Between March 3 and 5 four more vessels were struck: the Libra Trader, Gold Oak, Safeen Prestige and the Sonangol Namibe.
From Barron's ● Mar. 8, 2026
Cyber security researchers at CrowdStrike formed the name "Scattered Spider" because of the group's sporadic nature, but other cyber companies have given the cluster nicknames including Octo Tempest and Muddled Libra.
From BBC ● May 20, 2025
So much for a fun summer; she’s now learning the joys of a Los Angeles morning commute and cutthroat office politics at a fashion company called Libra.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 12, 2024
They are called libration points, from the Latin word for balance, so we could properly name our new country Libra.
From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins
The eighth method consists of heating together one libra of the copper, one and a half librae of sulphur, half a libra of verdigris, and a libra of refined salt.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
In this way every week, if the work is for six days, thirty-six centumpondia of cakes are made and three centumpondia of alloy, in all of which there is often almost twenty-four librae of silver.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
Thus there is left in the "bottoms," weighing twenty-three centumpondia, a total of eight and three-quarter librae of silver.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
The second contains two librae of vitriol, one of saltpetre, and as much spring or river water by weight as will pass away whilst the vitriol is being reduced to powder by the fire.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
The third consists of four librae of vitriol, two and a half librae of saltpetre, half a libra of alum, and one and a half librae of spring water.
From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius
How do we know what libras or bitcoins are worth, or whether they’re worth anything?
From The New Yorker ● Jul. 29, 2019
For a beginning, he offered an iron piece that uses a ball weighing three libras, which he handed over to the said adjutant Eras.
Suppose one of those lockets of the No-Popery prince's hair offered for sale at Christie's, quot libras e duce summo invenies? how many pounds would you find for the illustrious duke?
From Henry Esmond; The English Humourists; The Four Georges by Saintsbury, George
One passe-volante, cast in Flandes, caliber five libras, length four calibers.
Another of the same casting, a paterero,1 caliber eleven libras, length fourteen calibers.
It was sighted at a point two degrees W. of a Librae at an angle of 431/2° with the horizon, and had been photographed, its elements calculated, its spectrum taken.
From The Lord of the Sea by Shiel, M. P. (Matthew Phipps)
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
