Orion
|O-ri-on|
/əˈraɪən/
the great hunter in the sky (constellation/name)
Etymology
'Orion' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'Orion', from Greek 'Ὠρίων' ('Ōríōn'), where the ultimate root is of uncertain meaning.
'Orion' passed from Greek 'Ὠρίων' into Latin 'Orion' and entered Middle English (via Latin/Old French) as 'Orion', eventually becoming the modern English 'Orion'.
Initially, it named a mythic giant hunter; over time it also became the conventional name of the constellation and later a proper name for modern entities (e.g., a spacecraft).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a prominent constellation on the celestial equator, noted for the bright stars Betelgeuse and Rigel
Orion is easy to spot in the winter sky.
Synonyms
Noun 2
in Greek mythology, a giant hunter whom Zeus placed among the stars as the constellation Orion
Many stories describe Orion as a mighty hunter favored by the gods.
Synonyms
Noun 3
the name of NASA’s crewed spacecraft (the Orion spacecraft) designed for deep-space missions
Orion will carry astronauts on missions around the Moon.
Synonyms
Idioms
Last updated: 2025/08/10 19:00