sidereal
English
WOTD – 6 September 2006
Alternative forms
- sideral
- sidaereal
Etymology
From Latin sīdereus + -al (cf. Latin sīderālis), from sīdus (“star, constellation”), of unknown ultimate origin, likely a substrate language such as Pre-Greek.
Pronunciation
Adjective
sidereal (not comparable)
- Of or relating to the stars.
- 1919, Hector Macpherson, “Chapter V”, in S.Chapman (series editor), editor, Men of Science: Herschel:
- The field of sidereal astronomy, therefore, was virtually untrodden when, shortly after the beginning of his telescopic work, Herschel began his first review of the heavens.
- (astronomy) Relating to a measurement of time relative to the position of the stars.
- 1903, Percival Lowell, “Chapter I”, in The Solar System:
- Then, from a sufficient number of observations of synodic periods to give their mean, we obtain the sidereal period, or period with reference to the stars.
- (astronomy) Relating to a measurement of time relative to the point of the vernal equinox.
Derived terms
- sidereal astrology
- sidereal clock
- sidereal day
- sidereal hour
- sidereal hour angle
- sidereal midnight
- sidereal minute
- sidereal month
- sidereal noon
- sidereal orbital period
- sidereal period
- sidereal rotation period
- sidereal second
- sidereal table
- sidereal time
- sidereal year
Translations
of or relating to the stars
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relating to a measurement of time relative to the position of the stars
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