zodiac

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word zodiac. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word zodiac, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say zodiac in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word zodiac you have here. The definition of the word zodiac will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofzodiac, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
See also: Zodiac, zodíac, and zódiac

English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English zodiak (late 14th century), from Old French zodiaque, from Latin zōdiacus, from Ancient Greek ζῳδιακός [κύκλος] (zōidiakós [kúklos], of little animals), from ζῴδιον (zṓidion), the diminutive of ζῷον (zôion, animal), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷíh₃weti (to live).

Pronunciation

Noun

zodiac (plural zodiacs)

  1. (astrology) The belt-like region of the celestial sphere, approximately eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic, which includes the apparent path of the sun, moon, and visible planets.
    Synonym: (figurative, obsolete) baldric
    • 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page iv:
      Tremulous on the bladed graſs ſhone bright the pearly drops, like an aſſembly of ſparkling ſtars dancing on the plains of the zodiac; vocal was every bending ſpray, every reed was inſpired, each vvarbling throat ſeemed to emulate the melodious voice of the bird of a thouſand ſongs.
  2. (astrology) The twelve equal divisions of the zodiacal region into signs or houses, each named for a prominent constellation in the region.
    Synonym: star sign
  3. (astronomy) The ecliptic: the belt-like region of the celestial sphere corresponding to the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year.
  4. Any of various astrological systems considered similar to the above.
    • 1998, Sylvia Sikundar, Barbara DuMoulin, Celebrating Our Cultures, Pembroke Publishers Limited, →ISBN, page 58:
      Discussing both Chinese and Western zodiacs might be a prewriting activity.
  5. (countable) A circle decorated with the signs of the zodiac.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

See also

Friulian

Pronunciation

This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

Noun

zodiac m (plural zodiacs)

  1. zodiac

Derived terms

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Ancient Greek ζῳδιακός (zōidiakós).

Noun

zodiac n (plural zodiace)

  1. zodiac

Declension

Spanish

Noun

zodiac m (plural zodiacs)

  1. Alternative spelling of zódiac (rubber dinghy)