zodiac en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈzəʊ.dɪˌæk/ (UK)
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈzoʊ.diˌæk/ (US)
Etymology
From Middle English zodiak (late 14th century), from Old French zodiaque, from Latin zōdiacus, from Ancient Greek ζῳδιακός [κύκλος] (zōidiakós [kúklos], “[circle] of little animals”), from ζῴδιον (zōídion), the diminutive of ζῷον (zōîon, “animal”).
Meanings
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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.
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.
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:
- The twelve equal divisions of the zodiacal region into signs or houses, each named for a prominent constellation in the region.
- The twelve equal divisions of the zodiacal region into signs or houses, each named for a prominent constellation in the region. ▸ The Chinese zodiac.
- The ecliptic: the belt-like region of the celestial sphere corresponding to the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year.
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Any of various astrological systems considered similar to the above.
Discussing both Chinese and Western zodiacs might be a prewriting activity.
1998, Sylvia Sikundar, Barbara DuMoulin, Celebrating Our Cultures, Pembroke Publishers Limited, →ISBN, page 58:So the Dendera Zodiac seems to be a complete copy of the Mesopotamian zodiac.
1998, John H. Roger, “Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions”, in Journal of the British Astronomy Association, volume 108, number 1, page 10, column 1:He is so pictured in the ancient Denderah Zodiac, where we see a man coming forth pointing to the three bright stars (Rigel, Bellatrix, and Betelguez) as his.
1893, E. W. Bullinger, Witness of the Stars, London: The author, page 125:
- (countable) A circle decorated with the signs of the zodiac.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Zodiac | alternative | lexicographic | |
| zodiack | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| zodiacs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
zodiacal · Mesopotamian zodiac · sign of the zodiac · Denderah zodiac · zodiacal light · zodiac sign · Chinese zodiac · Dendera zodiac
Relateds
Synonyms
baldric · star sign · star sign
Translations (123)
fi (eläinradan) merkki (twelve signs in astrology) · ro zodiac (twelve signs in astrology) · nl zodiak (twelve signs in astrology) · pl zodiak (twelve signs in astrology) · de Zodiac (belt-like region in the sky) · da dyrekreds (twelve signs in astrology) · cs zvěrokruh (belt-like region in the sky) · es zodíaco (twelve signs in astrology) · ko 수대 (belt-like region in the sky) · hi चक्र (twelve signs in astrology) · bg зодия (twelve signs in astrology) · cs zvěrokruh (twelve signs in astrology) · gd grian-chrios (belt-like region in the sky) · hi भचक्र (belt-like region in the sky) · grc ζῳδιακός (twelve signs in astrology) · mk зо́дијак (twelve signs in astrology) · hi भचक्र (twelve signs in astrology) · grc ζῳδιακός (belt-like region in the sky) · it zodiaco (belt-like region in the sky) · cmn 生肖 (twelve signs in astrology) · tl tahaklaw (twelve signs in astrology) · hi राशि (twelve signs in astrology) · ko 십이 성좌 (twelve signs in astrology) · ms zodiak (twelve signs in astrology) · ga comhartha an Stoidiaca (twelve signs in astrology) · no dyrekrets (twelve signs in astrology) · uk зодіа́к (twelve signs in astrology) · cmn 屬相 /属相 (twelve signs in astrology) · pl zwierzyniec niebieski (twelve signs in astrology) · sa राशिचक्र (belt-like region in the sky) · da zodiak (twelve signs in astrology) · sa चक्र (belt-like region in the sky) · ca zodíac (belt-like region in the sky) · no stjernetegnene (twelve signs in astrology) · et sodiaak (twelve signs in astrology) · hy կենդանակերպ (twelve signs in astrology) · or ଚକ୍ର (twelve signs in astrology) · pl zwierzyniec niebieski (belt-like region in the sky) · eo zodiako (belt-like region in the sky) · mk зо́дијак (belt-like region in the sky) · ko 십이궁 (twelve signs in astrology) · hi चक्र (belt-like region in the sky) · hu zodiákus (twelve signs in astrology) · sa राशि (twelve signs in astrology) · de Zodiak (belt-like region in the sky) · ro zodiac (belt-like region in the sky) · ja 黄道帯 (belt-like region in the sky) · th จักรราศี (belt-like region in the sky) · no zodiak (twelve signs in astrology) · gd casan na grèine (twelve signs in astrology) · sk zverokruh (belt-like region in the sky) · sa राशिचक्र (twelve signs in astrology) · nl Zodiak (belt-like region in the sky) · th ราศี (twelve signs in astrology) · nl dierenriem (belt-like region in the sky) · mk хо́роскоп (twelve signs in astrology) · sv stjärntecken (twelve signs in astrology) · ar أَبْرَاجُ السَّمَاء (belt-like region in the sky) · oc zodiac (belt-like region in the sky) · pi rāsicakka (belt-like region in the sky) · sa चक्र (twelve signs in astrology) · is stjörnumerki (twelve signs in astrology) · pt zodíaco (twelve signs in astrology) · mi tātua poutiriao (belt-like region in the sky) · fa منطقةالبروج (belt-like region in the sky) · cmn 十二宮 /十二宫 (twelve signs in astrology) · ka ზოდიაქო (belt-like region in the sky) · id zodiak (twelve signs in astrology) · pt zodíaco (belt-like region in the sky) · id zodiak (belt-like region in the sky) · ca zodíac (twelve signs in astrology) · it zodiaco (twelve signs in astrology) · mi poutiriao (belt-like region in the sky) · sk zvieratník (belt-like region in the sky) · fr zodiaque (twelve signs in astrology) · th จักรราศี (twelve signs in astrology) · hi राशिचक्र (twelve signs in astrology) · ga stoidiaca (belt-like region in the sky) · hu állatöv (twelve signs in astrology) · hy կենդանակերպ (belt-like region in the sky) · af diereriem (twelve signs in astrology) · gl zodíaco (belt-like region in the sky) · tl tahaklaw (belt-like region in the sky) · mt żodjaku (twelve signs in astrology) · ka ზოდიაქო (twelve signs in astrology) · mt żodjaku (belt-like region in the sky) · ru зодиа́к (belt-like region in the sky) · fr zodiaque (belt-like region in the sky) · es zodíaco (belt-like region in the sky) · sk zvieratník (twelve signs in astrology) · ang circulcræft (twelve signs in astrology) · da zodiak (belt-like region in the sky) · da dyrekredsj (belt-like region in the sky) · cs zvířetník (belt-like region in the sky) · ja 十二宮 (twelve signs in astrology) · sk zverokruh (twelve signs in astrology) · hu zodiákus (belt-like region in the sky) · ru зодиа́к (twelve signs in astrology) · de Tierkreis (twelve signs in astrology) · pl zodiak (belt-like region in the sky) · ar أَبْرَاجُ السَّمَاء (twelve signs in astrology) · gd grian-chrios (twelve signs in astrology) · hi राशिचक्र (belt-like region in the sky) · ja 星座 (twelve signs in astrology) · fi zodiakki (belt-like region in the sky) · eo zodiako (twelve signs in astrology) · nrf zodiaque (twelve signs in astrology) · hi बुर्ज (twelve signs in astrology) · ja ゾディアック (belt-like region in the sky) · pi rāsi (twelve signs in astrology) · bg зодиак (belt-like region in the sky) · ko 황도 십이궁 (twelve signs in astrology) · nl dierenriem (twelve signs in astrology) · id rasi (twelve signs in astrology) · fi eläinrata (belt-like region in the sky) · ko 황도대 (belt-like region in the sky) · sv zodiaken (belt-like region in the sky) · cmn 黃道帶 /黄道带 (belt-like region in the sky) · kk зодиак (twelve signs in astrology) · nrf zodiaque (belt-like region in the sky) · kk зодиак (belt-like region in the sky) · sv zodiak (twelve signs in astrology) · hu állatöv (belt-like region in the sky)