pole star
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pole star¹
- /ˈpəʊl stɑː/ UK
- /ˈpoʊl ˌstɑɹ/ US
Where it comes from
From pole (“either of the two points on the Earth’s surface around which it rotates; similar points on any other rotating object”) + star, possibly a calque of Latin stēllam polārem (“the Pole Star”).
noun pole stars · polestar · pole-star
-
The star visible to the naked eye which was in the past, is now, or will be in the future nearest a celestial pole of a planet.
Polaris is currently the pole star of planet Earth.
Similar: polar star, pole arctic
-
A person, principle, or thing which acts as a guide; a guiding light; also, something which attracts much attention; a centre of attention.
But it [our hotel] has one great advantage for a stranger, by being in the market place, and the next neighbour of the huge church of St. Nicholas: […] A better pole-star could scarcely be desired.
Similar: cynosure, guide star, guiding star, lodestar
Pole Star²
- /ˈpəʊl stɑː/ UK
- /ˈpoʊl ˌstɑɹ/ US
Where it comes from
Capitalized form of pole star.
proper noun
-
Synonym of North Star, the current northern pole star, which has been Polaris for the last 1500 years.
Similar: North Star
Translations
Every language
noun star visible to the naked eye which was, is, or will be nearest a celestial pole of a planet
| Español | estrella polar |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 극성 geukseong |
| 日本語 | 極星 kyoku sei |
| 中文 | 極星 /极星 jíxīn |
| हिन्दी | ध्रुव तारा dhruv tārā |
| Português | estrela polar |
| Français | étoile polaire |
| Deutsch | Polarstern |
| Italiano | stella polare |
| Română | stea polară |
| Русский | поляри́ссима poljaríssima |
| עברית | כּוֹכַב הַצָּפוֹן kokháv hatsafón |
Talk about this word "pole star." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/pole%20star. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. pole star. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/pole%20star "pole star." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/pole%20star.Cite this
@misc{pole_star_2026,
title = {pole star},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/pole%20star},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
