Star grass

Star grass
Star Star (st[aum]r), n. [OE. sterre, AS. steorra; akin to OFries. stera, OS. sterro, D. ster, OHG. sterno, sterro, G. stern, Icel. stjarna, Sw. stjerna, Dan. stierne, Goth. sta['i]rn[=o], Armor. & Corn. steren, L. stella, Gr. 'asth`r, 'a`stron, Skr. star; perhaps from a root meaning, to scatter, Skr. st[.r], L. sternere (cf. {Stratum}), and originally applied to the stars as being strewn over the sky, or as being scatterers or spreaders of light. [root]296. Cf. {Aster}, {Asteroid}, {Constellation}, {Disaster}, {Stellar}.] 1. One of the innumerable luminous bodies seen in the heavens; any heavenly body other than the sun, moon, comets, and nebul[ae]. [1913 Webster]

His eyen twinkled in his head aright, As do the stars in the frosty night. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

Note: The stars are distinguished as {planets}, and {fixed stars}. See {Planet}, {Fixed stars} under {Fixed}, and {Magnitude of a star} under {Magnitude}. [1913 Webster]

2. The polestar; the north star. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

3. (Astrol.) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny; (usually pl.) a configuration of the planets, supposed to influence fortune. [1913 Webster]

O malignant and ill-brooding stars. --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury. --Addison. [1913 Webster]

4. That which resembles the figure of a star, as an ornament worn on the breast to indicate rank or honor. [1913 Webster]

On whom . . . Lavish Honor showered all her stars. --Tennyson. [1913 Webster]

5. Specifically, a radiated mark in writing or printing; an asterisk [thus, *]; -- used as a reference to a note, or to fill a blank where something is omitted, etc. [1913 Webster]

6. (Pyrotechny) A composition of combustible matter used in the heading of rockets, in mines, etc., which, exploding in the air, presents a starlike appearance. [1913 Webster]

7. A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially on public occasions, as a distinguished orator, a leading theatrical performer, etc. [1913 Webster]

Note: Star is used in the formation of compound words generally of obvious signification; as, star-aspiring, star-bespangled, star-bestudded, star-blasting, star-bright, star-crowned, star-directed, star-eyed, star-headed, star-paved, star-roofed, star-sprinkled, star-wreathed. [1913 Webster]

{Blazing star}, {Double star}, {Multiple star}, {Shooting star}, etc. See under {Blazing}, {Double}, etc.

{Nebulous star} (Astron.), a small well-defined circular nebula, having a bright nucleus at its center like a star.

{Star anise} (Bot.), any plant of the genus Illicium; -- so called from its star-shaped capsules.

{Star apple} (Bot.), a tropical American tree ({Chrysophyllum Cainito}), having a milky juice and oblong leaves with a silky-golden pubescence beneath. It bears an applelike fruit, the carpels of which present a starlike figure when cut across. The name is extended to the whole genus of about sixty species, and the natural order ({Sapotace[ae]}) to which it belongs is called the Star-apple family.

{Star conner}, one who cons, or studies, the stars; an astronomer or an astrologer. --Gascoigne.

{Star coral} (Zo["o]l.), any one of numerous species of stony corals belonging to {Astr[ae]a}, {Orbicella}, and allied genera, in which the calicles are round or polygonal and contain conspicuous radiating septa.

{Star cucumber}. (Bot.) See under {Cucumber}.

{Star flower}. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus {Ornithogalum}; star-of-Bethlehem. (b) See {Starwort} (b) . (c) An American plant of the genus {Trientalis} ({Trientalis Americana}). --Gray.

{Star fort} (Fort.), a fort surrounded on the exterior with projecting angles; -- whence the name.

{Star gauge} (Ordnance), a long rod, with adjustable points projecting radially at its end, for measuring the size of different parts of the bore of a gun.

{Star grass}. (Bot.) (a) A small grasslike plant ({Hypoxis erecta}) having star-shaped yellow flowers. (b) The colicroot. See {Colicroot}.

{Star hyacinth} (Bot.), a bulbous plant of the genus {Scilla} ({S. autumnalis}); -- called also {star-headed hyacinth}.

{Star jelly} (Bot.), any one of several gelatinous plants ({Nostoc commune}, {N. edule}, etc.). See {Nostoc}.

{Star lizard}. (Zo["o]l.) Same as {Stellion}.

{Star-of-Bethlehem} (Bot.), a bulbous liliaceous plant ({Ornithogalum umbellatum}) having a small white starlike flower.

{Star-of-the-earth} (Bot.), a plant of the genus {P} ({Plantago coronopus}), growing upon the seashore.

{Star polygon} (Geom.), a polygon whose sides cut each other so as to form a star-shaped figure.

{Stars and Stripes}, a popular name for the flag of the United States, which consists of thirteen horizontal stripes, alternately red and white, and a union having, in a blue field, white stars to represent the several States, one for each.

With the old flag, the true American flag, the Eagle, and the Stars and Stripes, waving over the chamber in which we sit. --D. Webster.

{Star showers}. See {Shooting star}, under {Shooting}.

{Star thistle} (Bot.), an annual composite plant ({Centaurea solstitialis}) having the involucre armed with stout radiating spines.

{Star wheel} (Mach.), a star-shaped disk, used as a kind of ratchet wheel, in repeating watches and the feed motions of some machines.

{Star worm} (Zo["o]l.), a gephyrean.

{Temporary star} (Astron.), a star which appears suddenly, shines for a period, and then nearly or quite disappears. These stars were supposed by some astronomers to be variable stars of long and undetermined periods. More recently, variations star in start intensity are classified more specifically, and this term is now obsolescent. See also {nova}. [Obsolescent]

{Variable star} (Astron.), a star whose brilliancy varies periodically, generally with regularity, but sometimes irregularly; -- called {periodical star} when its changes occur at fixed periods.

{Water star grass} (Bot.), an aquatic plant ({Schollera graminea}) with small yellow starlike blossoms. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • star grass — star′ grass n. pln any of various grasslike plants having star shaped flowers or a starlike arrangement of leaves, as the North American plant Hypoxis hirsuta, of the amaryllis family • Etymology: 1680–90 …   From formal English to slang

  • star grass — n. any of a number of grasslike plants with star shaped flowers, including two genera (Hypoxis and Aletris) of the lily family …   English World dictionary

  • Star grass — may refer to: * Aletris spp. * Callitriche spp. Webster s 1828 Dictionary * Chloris spp. * Cynodon spp., specially Cynodon dactylon * Hypoxis spp …   Wikipedia

  • star grass — noun 1. trailing grass native to Europe now cosmopolitan in warm regions; used for lawns and pastures especially in southern United States and India • Syn: ↑Bermuda grass, ↑devil grass, ↑Bahama grass, ↑kweek, ↑doob, ↑scutch grass, ↑Cynodon… …   Useful english dictionary

  • star grass — skėstašakė plinkšė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos pašarinis augalas (Chloris divaricata), paplitęs Australijoje ir Naujojoje Kaledonijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Chloris divaricata angl. Australian Rhodes grass; slender chloris; …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • star grass — tikroji knisažolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos dekoratyvinis, pašarinis, vaistinis nuodingas augalas (Cynodon dactylon), kilęs iš Azijos. atitikmenys: lot. Cynodon dactylon angl. Bahama grass; Bermuda grass; common… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • star grass — didžioji knisažolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos pašarinis augalas (Cynodon plectostachyus), paplitęs šiaurės Afrikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Cynodon plectostachyus angl. giant star grass; star grass isp. estrella port.… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • star grass — etiopinė knisažolė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Miglinių šeimos pašarinis augalas (Cynodon aethiopicus), paplitęs Afrikoje. atitikmenys: lot. Cynodon aethiopicus angl. Ethiopian dog s tooth grass; Nakuru grass; star grass šaltinis… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • star grass — Blazing Blaz ing, a. Burning with a blaze; as, a blazing fire; blazing torches. Sir W. Scott. [1913 Webster] {Blazing star}. (a) A comet. [Obs.] (b) A brilliant center of attraction. (c) (Bot.) A name given to several plants; as, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • star grass — Colicroot Col ic*root , n. A bitter American herb of the Bloodwort family, with the leaves all radical, and the small yellow or white flowers in a long spike ({Aletris farinosa} and {Aletris aurea}). Called sometimes {star grass}, {blackroot},… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”