Big Dipper

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the group of seven bright stars in Ursa Major resembling a dipper in outline.

big dipper

¹

noun

1. (in amusement parks) a narrow railway with open carriages that run swiftly over a route of sharp curves and steep inclines Also calledroller coaster

Big Dipper

²

noun

1. the US and Canadian name for Plough

Big Dipper

1. An asterism composed of seven stars in the constellation Ursa Major. Four stars form the bowl and three form the handle in the outline of a dipper.

Big Dipper

1. A constellation in the northern sky. The two stars on the far end of the bowl of the dipper point toward the North Star . The Big Dipper is part of the constellation Ursa Major (the Great Bear).

Word History and Origins

Origin of Big Dipper¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Another favorite is "The Big Dipper," my take on a French Dip.

From Salon

The 70-year-old has loved the cosmos since her childhood, since her father showed her the Big Dipper, the North Star and the Milky Way, and bought her her first telescope.

From BBC

Elusive stars began to emerge, dappling the stretches of sky that often look empty between streaks of red and green aircraft lights and astronomical divas like the North Star or Big Dipper.

From Los Angeles Times

The Big Dipper is the second oldest rollercoaster still in use in Great Britain.

From BBC

Ursa Major, also known as the Great Bear, is one of the most prominent northern constellations, and its main claim to fame is that it contains the Big Dipper, a highly recognizable asterism.

From National Geographic