Polaris

[ poh-lair-is, -lar-, puh- ]

noun

1. Astronomy. the polestar or North Star, a star of the second magnitude situated close to the north pole of the heavens, in the constellation Ursa Minor: the outermost star in the handle of the Little Dipper.
2. a two-stage U.S. ballistic missile, usually fired from a submerged submarine.

Polaris

/ pəˈlɑːrɪs /

noun

1. Also calledthe Pole Starthe North Star the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor, situated slightly less than 1° from the north celestial pole. It is a Cepheid variable, with a period of four days. Visual magnitude: 2.08–2.17; spectral type: F8Ib
2. 1. a type of US two-stage intermediate-range ballistic missile, usually fired by a submerged submarine
   2. ( as modifier )

      a Polaris submarine

Polaris

/ pə-lăr′ĭs /

1. A bright star at the end of the handle of the Little Dipper in the constellation Ursa Minor. Polaris is 1° from the north celestial pole, and it remains in the same location in the sky all year, making it a useful navigation tool. Polaris is actually a double star with a faint companion star and has an apparent magnitude of 2.04. Also called North Star. Scientific name: Alpha Ursae Minoris.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Polaris¹

1955–60; short for Medieval Latin stella polāris polar star

Word History and Origins

Origin of Polaris¹

shortened from Medieval Latin stella polāris polar star

Example Sentences

Last Thursday, astronauts on the Polaris Dawn mission completed a record-setting spacewalk.

From NewsForKids.net

Mr Stone will fight at the Polaris 30 event in London on 2 November to raise money for Swindon charity The Kelly Foundation.

From BBC

Jared Isaacman, a fintech billionaire serving as commander of the Polaris Dawn mission, and three other crew members lifted off in the Hawthorne company’s Crew Dragon spacecraft.

From Los Angeles Times

One person who has beaten Prof Cox into space is billionaire businessman Jared Isaacman and the crew of SpaceX's Polaris Dawn.

From BBC

The US agreed to a $14m discount on the UK’s purchase of its Polaris nuclear missiles as part of the secret deal over the islands.

From BBC