STAR

I. noun Usage: often attributive Etymology: Middle English sterre, from Old English steorra; akin to Old High German sterno ~, Latin stella, Greek astēr, astron Date: before 12th century 1. a natural luminous body visible in the sky especially at night, a self-luminous gaseous spheroidal celestial body of great mass which produces energy by means of nuclear fusion reactions, 2. a. a planet or a configuration of the planets that is held in astrology to influence one's destiny or fortune, a waxing or waning fortune or fame , destiny , 3. a conventional figure with five or more points that represents a ~, an often ~-shaped ornament or medal worn as a badge of honor, authority, or rank or as the insignia of an order, one of a group of conventional ~s used to place something in a scale of value, something resembling a ~ , 5. the principal member of a theatrical or operatic company who usually plays the chief roles, a highly publicized theatrical or motion-picture performer, an outstandingly talented performer , a person who is preeminent in a particular field, ~less adjective ~like adjective II. verb (~red; ~ring) Date: 1718 transitive verb to sprinkle or adorn with ~s, 2. to mark with a ~ as being preeminent, to mark with an asterisk, to feature in the most prominent or important role , intransitive verb to play the most prominent or important role, to perform outstandingly, III. adjective Date: 1821 of, relating to, or being a ~ , of outstanding excellence ; preeminent