zodiac

zo·di·ac

noun \ˈzō-dē-ˌak\

Definition of ZODIAC

1

a : an imaginary band in the heavens centered on the ecliptic that encompasses the apparent paths of all the planets and is divided into 12 constellations or signs each taken for astrological purposes to extend 30 degrees of longitude

2

: a cyclic course <a zodiac of feasts and fasts — R. W. Emerson>

zodiac table

— zo·di·a·cal \zō-ˈdī-ə-kəl, zə-\ adjective

Examples of ZODIAC

1. <a political candidate dealing with the never-ending zodiac of rubber-chicken dinners and meet and greets>

Origin of ZODIAC

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Latin zodiacus, from Greek zōidiakos, from zōidiakos, adjective, of carved figures, of the zodiac, from zōidion carved figure, sign of the zodiac, from diminutive of zōion living being, figure; akin to Greek zōē life

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to ZODIAC

Synonyms: circle, merry-go-round, round, wheel, cycle

Related Words: pattern, syndrome; course, development, progression, run; beat, circuit, loop, ring; rotation, revolution, turn, turnover; chain, sequence, series, string, succession, train

[+]more[-]hide

Rhymes with ZODIAC

almanac, amberjack, anorak, antiblack, applejack, Arawak, Aurillac, back-to-back, bivouac, black-on-black, brainiac, bric-a-brac, Cadillac, camelback, canvasback, cardiac, carryback, celiac, cornerback, Cousin Jack, crackerjack, cul-de-sac, diamondback, fiddleback, Gay-Lussac, gunnysack, hackmatack, haversack, high-low-jack, huckaback, hydrocrack, iliac, ipecac, Kodiak, ladder-back, leatherback, lumberjack, maniac, medevac, Merrimack, mommy track, multipack, nunatak, Nunivak, off-the-rack, paperback, Pasternak, piggyback, quarterback, razorback, retropack, running back, sandarac, Sarawak, silverback, single-track, snapper-back, steeplejack, stickleback, Syriac, tamarack, theriac, tokamak, turtleback, umiak, Unimak