Ursa Major

American  

[ur-suh mey-jer] / ˈɜr sə ˈmeɪ dʒər /

noun

Astronomy.

genitive

Ursae Majoris

1. the Great Bear, the most prominent northern constellation, containing the seven stars that form the Big Dipper.

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Ursa Major British  

/ ˈɜːsə ˈmeɪdʒə /

noun

1. Also called: the Great Bear.   the Bear.  an extensive conspicuous constellation in the N hemisphere, visible north of latitude 40°. The seven brightest stars form the Plough. A line through the two brightest stars points to the Pole Star lying in Ursa Minor

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Ursa Major Scientific  

/ ûr′sə /

1. A constellation in the polar region of the Northern Hemisphere near Draco and Leo. Ursa Major (the Great Bear) contains the seven stars that form the Big Dipper.

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Ursa Major Cultural  

1. A constellation; the Great Bear. (See Big Dipper.)

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Etymology

Origin of Ursa Major

Middle English word dating back to 1350–1400

Example Sentences

Hence, as I find you have undertaken the taming of that ursa major Lady Dundas, and her pretty cubs, I must give you a taste of their quality.

From Thaddeus of Warsaw by Porter, Jane

Johnson was called ursa major, or big bear, from the gruffness of his manner.

From Life and Conduct by Lees, J. Cameron