spica

[ spahy-kuh ]

noun

, plural spi·cae [spahy, -see], spi·cas

1. spike ².
2. a type of bandage in the shape of a figure eight, extending from an extremity to the trunk.
3. Spica, Astronomy. a first-magnitude star in the constellation Virgo.

Spica

¹

/ ˈspiːkə /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. Distance: 260 light years

spica

²

/ ˈspaɪkə /

noun

1. med a spiral bandage formed by a series of overlapping figure-of-eight turns
2. botany another word for spike 2

Spica

/ spī′kə /

1. A bright bluish-white binary star in the constellation Virgo, with an apparent magnitude of 0.96. Scientific name: Alpha Virginis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of spica¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin spīca literally, “ear of grain”; spike ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of spica¹

C15: from Latin: ear of corn

Example Sentences

How much brighter is an ordinary first-magnitude star, such as Aldebaran or Spica, than a star just visible to the naked eye?

From Project Gutenberg

The specific name, spicant, is from the Latin spica, “a point.”

From Project Gutenberg

In the southeast you will recognize the quadrilateral of Corvus, with the remarkably white star Spica glittering east of it.

From Project Gutenberg

The figure-of-eight bandage is used on various parts, and is illustrated in the bandage called spica of the groin, Fig.

From Project Gutenberg

The faint star which our larger apertures show about 6' northeast of Spica is of the tenth magnitude.

From Project Gutenberg