Al·phard
| \ ˈal-ˌfärd
\
\
Definition of Alphard
astronomy
: an orange star of the second magnitude that is the brightest star in the constellation Hydra
Hydra is actually the largest constellation. Despite its size, it has only one bright star named Alphard. It can be found over in the southwest sky all by itself—hence the name, which in Arabic means “the solitary one.” — Kevin D. Conod, The Star-Ledger (Newark, New Jersey), 17 May 2011
— called also Alpha Hydrae
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More About Alphard
Statistics for Alphard
Look-up Popularity
Cite this Entry
“Alphard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Alphard. Accessed 28 Jul. 2021.
Style: MLA
MLA
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Chicago
APA
Merriam-Webster
Test Your Vocabulary
Dog Words Quiz
-
- Which of the following animals has a dog in its etymology?
Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Spell words. Make bears.
TAKE THE QUIZLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Words at Play
Ask the Editors
Share Alphard
Time Traveler for Alphard
The first known use of Alphard was in 1546
See more words from the same year