Reading Theme:
Star Meaning, Examples & Common Uses Explained (4 meaning)
Meaning 1：celestial object (star)
star
/stɑːr/
n., v.
A bright point of light you see in the night sky. Most are huge, hot balls of gas like our sun, but very far away.
celestial object
➕
/sɪˈlɛstiəl ˈɑbdʒɛkt/
n., v.
A massive, luminous sphere of plasma held together by gravity, seen as a point of light in the night sky.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Old English 'steorra', cognate with Latin 'stella' and Greek 'aster'.
💡 Mnemonic
Think of a bright star in the sky. For fame, picture a celebrity's star on the Walk of Fame.
📖 Example
On a clear night in the countryside, you can see thousands of stars twinkling in the dark sky.
On a clear night in the countryside, you can see thousands of stars twinkling in the dark sky.
🔗 Collocations
shooting star – a meteor that burns brightly as it enters the atmosphere
north star – the star Polaris, used for navigation
star cluster – a group of stars held together by gravity
🔄 Synonyms
sun (n.) – a star, especially the one around which Earth orbits
celestial body (n.) – any natural object outside Earth's atmosphere
orb (n.) – a spherical celestial body
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
The word originates from Proto-Germanic 'sternō'. In modern culture, 'movie star' emerged in the early 20th century with Hollywood, transforming a celestial term into a metaphor for fame.
Meaning 2：famous performer (star)
star
/stɑːr/
n., v.
A very famous and popular performer, like an actor, singer, or athlete, who is admired by many people.
famous performer
➕
/ˈfeɪməs pərˈfɔːrmər/
n., v.
A highly acclaimed and popular actor, singer, or athlete who is widely admired and recognized by the public.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
My little sister was so excited when she saw her favorite movie star walking down the street.
My little sister was so excited when she saw her favorite movie star walking down the street.
🔗 Collocations
movie star – a famous actor or actress in films
rock star – a famous and successful rock musician
sports star – a well-known athlete
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
Meaning 3：award symbol (star)
star
/stɑːr/
n., v.
A mark (often shaped like ☆) used to show that something is very good, correct, or important, like on a school paper.
award symbol
➕
/əˈwɔːrd ˈsɪmbəl/
n., v.
A mark (often a five-pointed star shape) used to indicate excellence, correctness, or importance, such as on a student's paper or a rating system.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The teacher put a gold star sticker on my essay because I got the highest score in the class.
The teacher put a gold star sticker on my essay because I got the highest score in the class.
🔗 Collocations
gold star – a star-shaped sticker given as a reward for good work
five-star – denoting the highest quality or rating
star rating – a system of ranking using stars
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
Meaning 4：to be the lead performer (star)
star
/stɑːr/
n., v.
To be the main actor in a film, play, or show. Your name is the biggest on the poster.
to be the lead performer
➕
/tuː biː ðə liːd pərˈfɔːrmər/
n., v.
To play the main role in a film, play, or other show, being the principal character or performer.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
The famous actor agreed to star in a new science fiction movie about exploring Mars.
The famous actor agreed to star in a new science fiction movie about exploring Mars.
🔗 Collocations
star in a film – to be the lead actor or actress in a movie
star opposite – to perform as a lead alongside another actor
co-star – to appear as a main actor together with others
🔄 Synonyms
🚫 Antonyms
support (v.) – to play a secondary role
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