Pole star
/ˈpəʊl stɑː/ name, noun
name, noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 The star visible to the naked eye which was in the past, is now, or will be in the future nearest a celestial pole of a planet.
"Polaris is currently the pole star of planet Earth."
- 2 A person, principle, or thing which acts as a guide; a guiding light; also, something which attracts much attention; a centre of attention. figuratively
"But it [our hotel] has one great advantage for a stranger, by being in the market place, and the next neighbour of the huge church of St. Nicholas: […] A better pole-star could scarcely be desired."
Proper Noun
- 1 Synonym of North Star, the current northern pole star, which has been Polaris for the last 1500 years.
Example
More examples"Polaris is currently the pole star of planet Earth."
Etymology
Etymology 1
From pole (“either of the two points on the Earth’s surface around which it rotates; similar points on any other rotating object”) + star, possibly a calque of Latin stēllam polārem (“the Pole Star”).
Etymology 2
Capitalized form of pole star.