Main Entry: con·stel·la·tion

Pronunciation: \ˌkän(t)-stə-ˈlā-shən\

Function: noun

Etymology: Middle English constellacioun, from Anglo-French constellation, from Late Latin constellation-, constellatio, from Latin com- + stella star — more at star

Date: 14th century

1 : the configuration of stars especially at one's birth
2 : any of 88 arbitrary configurations of stars or an area of the celestial sphere covering one of these configurations
3 : an assemblage, collection, or group of usually related persons, qualities, or things <a constellation of…relatives, friends, and hangers-on — Brendan Gill> <a constellation of symptoms>
4 : pattern, arrangement <taking advantage of the shifting constellation of power throughout the known world — H. D. Lasswell>

— con·stel·la·to·ry \kən-ˈste-lə-ˌtȯr-ē\ adjective