zodiac

or Zo·di·ac

[ zoh-dee-ak ]

noun

1. 1. none the zodiac or the Zodiac, an imaginary belt of the heavens, extending about 8° on each side of the ecliptic, within which are the apparent paths of the sun, moon, and principal planets. It contains twelve constellations and hence twelve divisions called signs of the zodiac. Each division, however, because of the precession of the equinoxes, now contains the constellation west of the one from which it took its name.
   2. a circular or elliptical diagram representing this belt, and usually containing pictures of the animals, human figures, etc., that are associated with the constellations and signs.
2. Informal. sign of the zodiac:

   I checked out the zodiacs of some of my friends and was surprised at how well the descriptions captured aspects of their personalities.

3. a circuit or round.

zodiac

/ ˈzəʊdɪˌæk; zəʊˈdaɪəkəl /

noun

1. See zodiacal constellation
   an imaginary belt extending 8° either side of the ecliptic, which contains the 12 zodiacal constellations and within which the moon and planets appear to move. It is divided into 12 equal areas, called signs of the zodiac , each named after the constellation which once lay in it See zodiacal constellation
2. astrology a diagram, usually circular, representing this belt and showing the symbols, illustrations, etc, associated with each of the 12 signs of the zodiac, used to predict the future
3. rare.
   a complete circuit; circle

zodiac

/ zō′dē-ăk′ /

1. A band of the celestial sphere extending about eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic , representing the portion of the sky within which the paths of the Sun, the Moon, and the planets are found. In astrology, the zodiac is divided into 12 equal segments, each of which is named after a constellation through which the ecliptic passes in that region of the sky. The traditional beginning point of constellations is Aries, followed in calendrical order by Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius, Sagittarius, Capricorn, Aquarius, and Pisces.
2. See also equinox

zodiac

¹

1. A band of the sky along which the sun , the moon , and most of the planets move. It is divided into twelve parts, with each part named for a nearby constellation .

zodiac

²

1. The imaginary band in the sky through which the sun , the moon , and the planets appear to move. The twelve constellations in the band (Aquarius, Pisces, and so on) are the familiar signs of the zodiac used in astrology .

Notes

The twelve constellations, or signs, of the zodiac are important in astrology .

Derived Forms

• zodiacal, adjective

Other Words From

• zo·di·a·cal [zoh-, dahy, -, uh, -k, uh, l], adjective
• non·zo·di·a·cal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of zodiac¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English zodiaque, from Latin zōdiacus, from Greek zōidiakòs (kýklos) “signal (circle),” from zṓidi(on) “animal sign” ( zô(ion) “animal” + -idion, diminutive suffix) + -akos -ac

Word History and Origins

Origin of zodiac¹

C14: from Old French zodiaque, from Latin zōdiacus, from Greek zōidiakos ( kuklos ) (circle) of signs, from zōidion animal sign, carved figure, from zōion animal

Example Sentences

Police have determined that the Zodiac Killer is responsible for the deaths of at least five victims around San Francisco in the late 1960s.

From The Daily Beast

Online searches for zodiac signs and birth charts hit a five-year peak in 2020, according to Google Trends.

From Time

The Zodiac mod vaporizer I admired behind the glass in BeyondVape is gorgeous, but it also costs $220.

From The Daily Beast

Leo is strategic, the queen on the chessboard, the prime mover of the zodiac.

From The Daily Beast

Zodiac signs correspond to seven-year spans of life; Cancer, with college and coming of age.

From The Daily Beast

From the resourceful rat to the fertile pig, the 12 zodiac heads ostensibly represent different periods in the Chinese calendar.

From The Daily Beast

This second zodiac sign rules the human age of innocence, 7-14 years.

From The Daily Beast

The detrimentum is the sign of the Zodiac opposite to the planet's mansion.

From Project Gutenberg

This shews that Mars was, at first, further advanced than Venus along the Zodiac.

From Project Gutenberg

The signs of the zodiac were worshipped, and the constellations not in that important circle did not go without adoration.

From Project Gutenberg

It may be found on the outside, or square planisphere, of the zodiac of the Temple of Denderah.

From Project Gutenberg

The Zodiac is the zone of stars traversed by the Sun in the course of a year.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• forecast
• forecasting
• guess
• indicator
• prognosis
• prophecy

More About Zodiac

What does zodiac mean?

In astronomy, the zodiac is the band of sky along which the paths of the sun, the moon, and the planets appear to move.

The zodiac can be divided into 12 sections, each of which is named after a constellation (called a zodiacal constellation). These include Aquarius, Pisces, Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Leo, Cancer, Virgo, Libra, Scorpius (Scorpio), Sagittarius, and Capricornus (Capricorn).

Despite its basis in astronomy, the word zodiac is mainly associated with and most often used in the context of astrology, in which it refers to a diagram (often a circular one) representing this belt and showing the symbols associated with each of the 12 constellations or sections, which are called the signs of the zodiac. 

Astrology is the nonscientific practice in which the positions of heavenly bodies at certain times are thought to influence or be correlated with human behavior and events. For example, the position of the sun in a particular portion of the zodiac at the moment of a person’s birth is thought to correlate with their personality. This is what people are referring to when they talk about their zodiac sign (or star sign or often just sign). The word horoscope can refer to a diagram of the heavens that maps the relative position of planets and the signs of the zodiac. It can also refer to a prediction based (or said to be based) on such a diagram.

The symbols used in Western astrology differ in some other cultures. For example, different ones are used in the Chinese zodiac.

Example: Apparently, my wife and I have zodiac signs that are supposed to be very incompatible—oh well, we get along great!

Where does zodiac come from?

The first records of the word zodiac come from around the 1300s. It comes from the Greek zōidiakòs (kuklos), meaning “(circle) of signs.” It ultimately comes from zōidion, meaning “animal sign” or “carved figure, from zōion, “animal.”

When ancient people looked up in the sky, they saw patterns in the stars that they thought looked like animals and other figures, such as a bull (Taurus), a lion (Leo), a scorpion (Scorpio), and an archer (Sagittarius). These patterns are what we call constellations, and some of them appear in what’s called the zodiac. All of this involved (and became part of) ancient mythology and the practice of trying to interpret events based on the position of heavenly bodies (which we now call astrology).

Turn your sights toward this article to learn more about each of the astrological signs of the zodiac.

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to zodiac?

 

• zodiacal (adjective)

 

• nonzodiacal (adjective)

What are some words that share a root or word element with zodiac? 

• sign of the zodiac
• zodiacal constellation

What are some words that often get used in discussing zodiac?

 

• sign
• astrology
• horoscope
• chart
• constellation
• astronomy
• belt
• band
• sky
• heavens
• star
• ecliptic

How is zodiac used in real life?

The word zodiac is most commonly used in the context of astrology, especially in the discussion of signs of the zodiac.

There are no major planetary aspects happening today, but the Sun is in the middle of transiting a part of the zodiac (15* Libra – 15* Scorpio) called the Via Combusta. This is supposedly an especially intense span of degrees. The ancients called it the "fiery path".

— starheal (@starheal) October 13, 2018

Bryan Francisco's creative makeup art has gone viral on TikTok after he used handmade plastic head pieces, clay, airbrushes and gold-flecked paint to represent the different signs of the Zodiac. https://t.co/4B6Henyast

— CBC Toronto (@CBCToronto) January 22, 2021

This tablet was part of a set studying the twelve signs of the zodiac that the Mesopotamians recognized in the stars and which corresponded to the twelve months of the year that we have inherited. pic.twitter.com/3RsJhPPOck

— Puratatva – The Histories (@purahistories) January 20, 2021

 

Try using zodiac!

Which of the following constellations is NOT considered a sign of the zodiac?

A. Aquarius
B. Pisces
C. Orion
D. Aries