American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
- n. The scientific study of matter in outer space, especially the positions, dimensions, distribution, motion, composition, energy, and evolution of celestial bodies and phenomena.
- n. A system of knowledge or beliefs about celestial phenomena: the various astronomies of ancient civilizations.
Century Dictionary and Cyclopedia
- n. The science which describes the heavenly bodies and explains their apparent motions, etc. That part of the science which gives a description of the motions, figures, periods of revolution, and other phenomena of the heavenly bodies is called
descriptive astronomy; that part which teaches how to observe their motions, figures, periodical revolutions, distances, etc., and how to use the necessary instruments, is called practical astronomy; and that part which explains the causes of their motions, and demonstrates the laws by which those causes operate, is termed physical astronomy.
- n. Astrological skill.
- n. Several other branches of the science are recognized: gravitational astronomy or astronomical mechanics, replacing the term physical astronomy, which is now generally discarded because of the danger of confusion with astronomical physics or astrophysics; nautical astronomy, astronomy applied to navigation; sidereal astronomy, the branch of the science which deals with the stars; spheric astronomy, which treats of the apparent position and motions of bodies on the celestial sphere; theoretical astronomy, which deals with the calculation of orbits and perturbations. These various branches interlace in all directions.
- n. The study of the physical universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere, including the process of mapping locations and properties of the matter and radiation in the universe.
GNU Webster's 1913
- n. obsolete Astrology.
- n. The science which treats of the celestial bodies, of their magnitudes, motions, distances, periods of revolution, eclipses, constitution, physical condition, and of the causes of their various phenomena.
- n. A treatise on, or text-book of, the science.
- n. the branch of physics that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole
- Old French astronomie, from Latin astronomia, from Ancient Greek ἀστρονομία (astronomia), from ἄστρον (astron, "star"), from Proto-Indo-European *h₂stḗr (“star”) + νόμος (nomos, "arranging, regulating"), related to νέμω (nemō, "I deal out"). (Wiktionary)
- Middle English astronomie, from Old French, from Latin astronomia, from Greek astronomiā : astro-, astro- + -nomiā, -nomy. (American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition)
“Shortly after Joe Haldeman received a Bachelor of Science degree in astronomy from the University of Maryland, he was drafted into the army where he served (and received a Purple Heart medal) as a combat engineer in Vietnam.”
“As a result, my trying to keep up with what's going on in astronomy is largely an internet affair.”
“Your duties will consist of instructing others in that new science which you call astronomy and in applying it for the welfare of humanity.”
“And astronomy is building that map, and trying to help break down those boundaries of today.”
“In the mean time, astronomy is paving the path for ours and future generations to follow.”
“The discovery of extrasolar planets -- one of the hardest things to do in astronomy -- has been especially replete with false alarms.”
“Astronomycast is aimed at anyone interested in astronomy and is particularly good for people dipping their toes into the idea of learning a bit on their own.”
“(In homage to Nehru's interest in astronomy, the city's planetarium is next door.) 12: 10 A.M. INDIRA GANDHI”
“Panel discussions were fun - Bri and/or I were on panels about anime/manga, The Bride of Frankenstein, movie remakes, what's new in astronomy, drawing videogame characters and dragons (for kids programming), etc.”
“If this has been done I tell you honestly that I wish never to see Clare Hall again, for if they cannot rival their young Mistress in astronomy and Music, they come very close to you Ladies all on the score of grace.”
These user-created lists contain the word ‘astronomy’.
A collection of words found in English that are either purely Greek or have Greek etymology.
Please add with caution and certainty. Will be regularly updated by me.
A list of words that are odd or words that I have looked up.
Words that make other words with the addition of one letter at the beginning. The resulting words are tagged "behead".
Your Favorite Words Pertaining to Science.
of stars or space
Looking for tweets for astronomy.