constellation
noun
con·stel·la·tion
ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən 
1
: the configuration of stars especially at one's birth
2
: any of 88 arbitrary configurations of stars or an area of the celestial sphere covering one of these configurations
the constellation Orion
3
: an assemblage, collection, or group of usually related persons, qualities, or things
… a constellation of … relatives, friends, and hangers-on …—
Brendan Gill
Brendan Gilla constellation of symptoms
4
: pattern, arrangement
… taking advantage of the shifting constellation of power throughout the known world.—H. D. Lasswell
H. D. LasswellSynonyms
Examples of constellation in a Sentence
The constellation Ursa Major contains the stars of the Big Dipper.
A large constellation of relatives and friends attended the funeral.
The patient presented a constellation of symptoms.
Recent Examples on the Web
What better than the constellation of Orion, the hunter, which is rising in the east after dark?
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
The vessel also has the Royal Court Theatre, a casino, a gym, a spa, multiple restaurants, bars and cafes, evening entertainment, and the only planetarium at sea (constellations were projected onto a retractable dome on the Illuminations venue’s ceiling).
—Heather Steinberger, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
Musk's constellation of multibillion-dollar businesses include SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, X, xAI, and The Boring Company.
—Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Another mystery is how Globalstar plans on developing the new satellite constellation.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for constellation 
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Jamie Carter, Forbes, 25 Nov. 2024
The vessel also has the Royal Court Theatre, a casino, a gym, a spa, multiple restaurants, bars and cafes, evening entertainment, and the only planetarium at sea (constellations were projected onto a retractable dome on the Illuminations venue’s ceiling).
—Heather Steinberger, Robb Report, 22 Nov. 2024
Musk's constellation of multibillion-dollar businesses include SpaceX, Tesla, Neuralink, X, xAI, and The Boring Company.
—Rachel Barber, USA TODAY, 21 Nov. 2024
Another mystery is how Globalstar plans on developing the new satellite constellation.
—Michael Kan, PCMAG, 1 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for constellation
Articles Related to constellation
Dictionary Entries Near constellation
Cite this Entry
“Constellation.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/constellation. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
constellation
noun
con·stel·la·tion
ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən
: any of 88 groups of stars forming patterns
Etymology
Middle English constellacioun "the position of the stars in the sky at the time of a person's birth," from early French constellation (same meaning), from Latin con-, com- "with" and stella "star"
Medical Definition
constellation
noun
con·stel·la·tion
ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən
: a set of ideas, conditions, symptoms, or traits that fall into or appear to fall into a pattern: as
a
: a group of stimulus conditions or factors affecting personality and behavior development
the way in which family constellation and handling of punishment influenced this particular boy—S. B. Sarason
S. B. Sarason
b
: a group of behavioral or personality traits
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