stargazer

American  

[stahr-gey-zer] / ˈstɑrˌgeɪ zər /

noun

1. a person who stargazes, as an astronomer or astrologer.

2. a daydreamer.

3. an impractical idealist.

4. any of several marine fishes of the family Uranoscopidae, having the eyes at the top of the head.

5. sand stargazer.

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Etymology

Origin of stargazer

First recorded in 1550–60; star + gazer ( def. )

Explanation

A stargazer is a trained or amateur astronomer. Your hobby of peering at the planets through a telescope makes you a stargazer! Having a degree in astronomy makes someone a stargazer, but people who recline outdoors on a summer night to watch the stars overhead can also describe themselves this way. The word, originally hyphenated, is formed from star and gazer, "someone who looks (or gazes) at something for a long time." Astrologers are also referred to as stargazers, since they observe the positions of the planets and stars in order to predict the future.

Example Sentences

Soon enough we understand its role in deciphering the woman sitting before us, centered in an opulent room with a lush bouquet of stargazer lilies behind her.

From Salon • Oct. 30, 2024

“The police officers testified” that “if a stargazer wants to take a blanket or a sleeping bag out at night to watch the stars and falls asleep, you don’t arrest them.”

From Slate • Apr. 22, 2024

But what you're actually looking at is a stargazer fish which has buried itself in the sandy floor of the Mediterranean.

From BBC • Aug. 30, 2023

Then a stargazer watching the camera’s livestream on YouTube sent him a screenshot of the spiral using an online messaging platform.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 27, 2023

“Well, they don’t sit around reading stargazer books and eating Christmas cookies. They fly someplace exotic. On their parents’ private jet.

From "Shine!" by J.J. and Chris Grabenstein

Related Words

• astronomer