regulus

¹

[reg-yuh-luhs]

noun

plural

reguluses, reguli 

1. Astronomy.,  Regulus, a first magnitude star in the constellation Leo.

2. Metallurgy.

   1. the metallic mass that forms beneath the slag at the bottom of the crucible or furnace in smelting ores.

   2. an impure intermediate product obtained in smelting ores.

Regulus

²

[reg-yuh-luhs]

noun

1. Marcus Atilius died 250? b.c., Roman general.

Regulus

¹

/ ˈrɛɡjʊləs /

noun

1. Marcus Atilius (ˈmɑːkəs əˈtɪlɪəs). died ?250 _bc , Roman general; consul (267; 256). Captured by the Carthaginians in the First Punic War, he was sent to Rome on parole to deliver the enemy's peace terms, advised the Senate to refuse them, and was tortured to death on his return to Carthage

Regulus

²

/ ˈrɛɡjʊləs /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Leo. Visual magnitude: 1.3; spectral type: B8; distance: 69 light years

regulus

³

/ ˈrɛɡjʊləs /

noun

1. impure metal forming beneath the slag during the smelting of ores

Regulus

1. A bright triple star in the constellation Leo, with an apparent magnitude of 1.35. Scientific name: Alpha Leonis.

Other Word Forms

• reguline adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Regulus¹

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin rēgulus literally, “little king” (diminutive of rēx ); in early chemistry, “antimony,” so called because it readily combines with gold (the king of metals); -ule

Word History and Origins

Origin of Regulus¹

C16: from Latin: a petty king, from rēx king; formerly used for antimony , because it combines readily with gold, thought of as the king of metals