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Canis Major

[ key-nis mey-jer ]

noun

, Astronomy.
, genitive Ca·nis Ma·jo·ris [key, -nis m, uh, -, jawr, -is, -, johr, -].
  1. the Great Dog, a southern constellation between Puppis and Orion, containing Sirius, the Dog Star, the brightest of the stars.


Canis Major

/ ˈkeɪnɪs /

noun

  1. a constellation in the S hemisphere close to Orion, containing Sirius, the brightest star in the sky Also calledthe Great Dog
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Canis Major

/ kā′nĭs /

  1. A constellation in the Southern Hemisphere near Orion. Canis Major (the Greater Dog) contains Sirius, the brightest star in the night sky.
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Canis Major1

< Latin: larger dog
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Word History and Origins

Origin of Canis Major1

Latin: the greater dog
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Example Sentences

For binoculars and telescopes, Canis Major is rich in star clusters.

Canis Major and Canis Minor are the constellations named for Orion's two hunting dogs.

From Salon

Below Gemini, you can spy the bright Sirius, the dog star in the constellation Canis Major.

As Bill explained: “Procyon is the main star in the constellation Canis Minor, i.e., the lesser dog as compared with the constellation Canis Major.”

Sirius comes from a Greek word that means “glowing” or “scorching,” and it is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major, which means large or greater dog.

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caningCanis Minor