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.

The zodiac can be divided into 12 sections, each of which is named after a constellation (called a zodiacal constellation). These include Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius (Scorpio), Sagittarius, and Capricornus (Capricorn).

Despite its basis in astronomy, the word zodiac is mainly associated with and most often used in the context of astrology, in which it refers to a diagram (often a circular one) representing this belt and showing the symbols associated with each of the 12 constellations or sections, which are called the signs of the zodiac. 

Astrology is 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. For example, 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). The word horoscope can refer to a diagram of the heavens that maps the relative position of planets and the signs of the zodiac. It can also refer to a prediction based (or said to be based) on such a diagram.

The symbols used in Western astrology differ in some other cultures. For example, different ones are used in the Chinese zodiac.

Example: Apparently, my wife and I have zodiac signs that are supposed to be very incompatible—oh well, we get along great!

The first records of the word zodiac come from around the 1300s. It comes from the Greek zōidiakòs (kuklos), meaning “(circle) of signs.” It ultimately comes from zōidion, meaning “animal sign” or “carved figure, from zōion, “animal.”

When ancient people looked up in the sky, they saw patterns in the stars that they thought looked like animals and other figures, such as a bull (Taurus), a lion (Leo), a scorpion (Scorpio), and an archer (Sagittarius). These patterns are what we call constellations, and some of them appear in what’s called the zodiac. All of this involved (and became part of) ancient mythology and the practice of trying to interpret events based on the position of heavenly bodies (which we now call astrology).

Turn your sights toward this article to learn more about each of the astrological signs of the zodiac.

What are some other forms related to zodiac?

• zodiacal (adjective)

• nonzodiacal (adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with zodiac? 

• sign of the zodiac
• zodiacal constellation

What are some words that often get used in discussing zodiac?

• sign
• astrology
• horoscope
• chart
• constellation
• astronomy
• belt
• band
• sky
• heavens
• star
• ecliptic

The word zodiac is most commonly used in the context of astrology, especially in the discussion of signs of the zodiac.

There are no major planetary aspects happening today, but the Sun is in the middle of transiting a part of the zodiac (15* Libra – 15* Scorpio) called the Via Combusta. This is supposedly an especially intense span of degrees. The ancients called it the "fiery path".

— starheal (@starheal) October 13, 2018

Bryan Francisco's creative makeup art has gone viral on TikTok after he used handmade plastic head pieces, clay, airbrushes and gold-flecked paint to represent the different signs of the Zodiac. https://t.co/4B6Henyast

— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto) January 22, 2021

This tablet was part of a set studying the twelve signs of the zodiac that the Mesopotamians recognized in the stars and which corresponded to the twelve months of the year that we have inherited. pic.twitter.com/3RsJhPPOck

— Puratatva – The Histories (@purahistories) January 20, 2021

Which of the following constellations is NOT considered a sign of the zodiac?

A. Aquarius
B. Pisces
C. Orion
D. Aries