zodiac

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See also: Zodiac, zodíac, and zódiac

English

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Alternative forms

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Etymology

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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 (zṓidion), the diminutive of ζῷον (zôion, animal), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *gʷíh₃weti (to live).

Pronunciation

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Noun

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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

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Translations

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See also

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Friulian

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Pronunciation

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

Noun

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zodiac m (plural zodiacs)

  1. zodiac

Derived terms

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Romanian

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Etymology

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Borrowed from Ancient Greek ζῳδιακός (zōidiakós).

Noun

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zodiac n (plural zodiace)

  1. zodiac

Declension

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Spanish

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Noun

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zodiac m (plural zodiacs)

  1. Alternative spelling of zódiac (rubber dinghy)