Ursa Minor

[ur-suh mahy-ner]

noun

Astronomy.

genitive

Ursae Minoris 

1. the Little or Lesser Bear, the northernmost constellation, containing the stars that form the Little Dipper, the outermost of which, at the end of the handle, is Polaris.

Ursa Minor

/ ˈɜːsə ˈmaɪnə /

noun

1. Also called: the Little Bear.  the Bear.  the Little Dipper. a small faint constellation, the brightest star of which is the Pole Star, lying 1° from the true celestial pole

Ursa Minor

1. A ladle-shaped constellation very near the north celestial pole. Ursa Minor (the Lesser Bear) contains the seven stars that form the Little Dipper. Polaris, the North Star, is at the end of the dipper's handle.

Ursa Minor

1. The Little Bear or Little Dipper; the constellation that contains the North Star (Polaris).

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ursa Minor¹

First recorded in 1590–1600

Word History and Origins

Origin of Ursa Minor¹

Latin: lesser bear