*astro*

‖n. [ Gr. &unr_; from + &unr_; star. ] (Astron.) That point in the orbit of a double star where the smaller star is farthest from its primary. [ 1913 Webster ]

The combining form of the Greek word 'a`stron, meaning star. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. exobiology; -- not used technically.
Syn. -- exobiology. [ PJC ]

n. the branch of science involving astronomy and chemistry which studies the chemical composition, chemical reactions, and evolution of matter in outer space. -- as`tro*chem"ic*al a. -- as`tro*chem"ic*al*ly adv. [ PJC ]

n. a large star-shaped neuroglial cell in nervous tissue. [ PJC ]

n. a tumor of nervous tissue derived from interstitial cells, in which the cells are relatively well-differentiated and resemble astrocytes. The occur primarily in the crebrum and cerebellum. Stedman [ PJC ]

{ } n. A bitter herb, probably the same as aster, or starwort. Spenser. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + Gr. &unr_; birth. ] The creation or evolution of the stars or the heavens. H. Spencer. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + Gr. &unr_; knowledge. ] The science or knowledge of the stars, esp. the fixed stars. Bouvier. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Same as Astrogeny. -- As`*tro*gon"ic a. [1913 Webster]

n. [ Astro'cf + -graphy. ] The art of describing or delineating the stars; a description or mapping of the heavens. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. astroites: cf. F. astroite. ] A radiated stone or fossil; star-stone. [ Obs. ] [ Written also astrite and astrion. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. astrolabie, astrilabe, OF. astrelabe, F. astrolabe, LL. astrolabium, fr. Gr. 'astrola`bon; 'a`stron star + &unr_;, &unr_;, to take. ] 1. (Astron.) An instrument for observing or showing the positions of the stars. It is now disused. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Among the ancients, it was essentially the armillary sphere. A graduated circle with sights, for taking altitudes at sea, was called an astrolabe in the 18th century. It is now superseded by the quadrant and sextant. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. A stereographic projection of the sphere on the plane of a great circle, as the equator, or a meridian; a planisphere. Whewell. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A worshiper of the stars. Morley. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + Gr. &unr_; service, worship: cf. F. astrolâtrie. ] The worship of the stars. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + lithology. ] The science of aërolites. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ See Astrology. ] 1. One who studies the stars; an astronomer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who practices astrology; one who professes to foretell events by the aspects and situation of the stars. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OF. astrologien. ] An astrologer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Gr. 'astrologiko`s. ] Of or pertaining to astrology; professing or practicing astrology. “Astrologic learning.” Hudibras. “Astrological prognostication.” Cudworth. -- As`tro*log"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

v. t. & i. To apply astrology to; to study or practice astrology. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. astrologie, L. astrologia, fr. Gr. 'astrologi`a, fr. 'astrolo`gos astronomer, astrologer; 'asth`r star + lo`gos discourse, le`gein to speak. See Star. ] In its etymological signification, the science of the stars; among the ancients, synonymous with astronomy; subsequently, the art of judging of the influences of the stars upon human affairs, and of foretelling events by their position and aspects. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Astrology was much in vogue during the Middle Ages, and became the parent of modern astronomy, as alchemy did of chemistry. It was divided into two kinds: judicial astrology, which assumed to foretell the fate and acts of nations and individuals, and natural astrology, which undertook to predict events of inanimate nature, such as changes of the weather, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Gr. &unr_; astrology. ] Of or pertaining to divination by means of the stars; astrologic. [ R. ] Dr. H. More. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + meteorology. ] The investigation of the relation between the sun, moon, and stars, and the weather. -- As`*tro*me`te*or`o*log"ic*al a. -- As`tro*me`te*or*ol"o*gist n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + meter. ] An instrument for comparing the relative amount of the light of stars. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + metry. ] The art of making measurements among the stars, or of determining their relative magnitudes. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. a person trained to travel in a spacecraft; one who travels in a spacecraft; -- called in the Soviet Union and Russia cosmonaut.
Syn. -- spaceman, cosmonaut [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. of or pertaining to astronautics.
Syn. -- astronautical [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. of or pertaining to astronautics.
Syn. -- astronautic [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The theory and practice of navigation through the upper atmosphere or outer space; the science of travel beyond the Earth's atmosphere. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. 1. navigating according to the positions of the stars.
Syn. -- celestial navigation [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ See Astronomy. ] 1. An astrologer. [ Obs. ] Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who is versed in astronomy; one who has a knowledge of the laws of the heavenly orbs, or the principles by which their motions are regulated, with their various phenomena. [ 1913 Webster ]

An undevout astronomer is mad. Young. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. & OF. astronomien. See Astronomy. ] An astrologer. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Astronomical. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. astronomicus, Gr. 'astronomiko`s: cf. F. astronomique. ] Of or pertaining to astronomy; in accordance with the methods or principles of astronomy. -- As`tro*nom"ic*al*ly, adv. [1913 Webster]

Astronomical clock. See under Clock. --
Astronomical day. See under Day. --
Astronomical fractions,
Astronomical numbers. See under Sexagesimal. [1913 Webster]

v. i. [ Gr. &unr_;. ] To study or to talk astronomy. [ R. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

They astronomized in caves. Sir T. Browne. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ OE. astronomie, F. astronomie, L. astronomia, fr. Gr. &unr_;, fr. &unr_; astronomer; 'asth`r star + &unr_; to distribute, regulate. See Star, and Nomad. ] 1. Astrology. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

Not from the stars do I my judgment pluck;
And yet methinks I have astronomy. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science. [ 1913 Webster ]

Physical astronomy. See under Physical. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Astrofel. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + photography. ] The application of photography to the delineation of the sun, moon, and stars. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pref. astro- + photometer. ] (Astron.) A photometer for measuring the brightness of stars. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Astron.) The determination of the brightness of stars, and also of the sun, moon, and planets. -- As`tro*pho`to*met"ric*al a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

a. Pertaining to the physics of astronomical science. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. 1. an astronomer who studies the physical properties of celestial bodies. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. [ Astro- + physics. ] (Astron.) The science treating of the physical characteristics of the stars and other heavenly bodies, their chemical constitution, light, heat, atmospheres, etc. It is a branch of astronomy. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Its observations were traditionally made with the spectroscope, bolometer, etc., usually in connection with the telescope. In modern times, radiotelescopes, infrared telescopes, X-ray and gamma ray detectors and neutrino detection equipment located deep underground are all put into service to observe and test theories about astronomical phenomena. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC ]

n. 1. the concerned with the physical and chemical properties of celestial bodies. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

‖n. [ Astro- + Gr. fyton a plant. ] (Zool.) A genus of ophiurans having the arms much branched. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + scope. ] An old astronomical instrument, formed of two cones, on whose surface the constellations were delineated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. Observation of the stars. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Astro- + theology. ] Theology founded on observation or knowledge of the celestial bodies. Derham. [ 1913 Webster ]