arcturus
|ar-ctu-rus|
🇺🇸
/ɑrˈktʊrəs/
🇬🇧
/ɑːˈkʊə.rəs/
guardian of the bear; bright red giant star
Etymology
'Arcturus' originates from Latin and Greek; it comes from Greek 'Arktouros' (Ἀρκτοῦρος), where 'arktos' meant 'bear' and 'ouros' meant 'watcher' or 'guardian'.
'Arktouros' (Greek) passed into Latin as 'Arcturus' and then into Middle English and modern English as the proper name 'Arcturus'.
Initially, the name meant 'guardian of the bear' (a reference to its position near Ursa Major); over time it became primarily the name of the specific bright star and, by extension, a source for other proper names.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
the proper name of the bright, orange-red giant star Alpha Boötis, the brightest star in the constellation Boötes and one of the brightest stars in the northern celestial hemisphere.
Arcturus is one of the brightest stars visible from northern latitudes and is an orange-red giant.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a traditional celestial/astronomical reference used in navigation, seasonal calendars, and historical observations.
Sailors in the past used Arcturus as a reference point for navigation.
Noun 3
a proper name applied to various non-astronomical things (e.g., ships, companies, fictional characters or places) derived from the star's name.
The research vessel Arcturus arrived at the port this morning.
Last updated: 2025/10/09 18:20