Centaurus

noun

Cen·​tau·​rus sen-ˈtȯr-əs How to pronounce Centaurus (audio)
: a southern constellation between the Southern Cross and Hydra (see Hydra sense 3)

Examples of Centaurus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web It is located roughly 6,500 light-years away from Earth in the constellation Centaurus and this new image shows the nebula in new detail. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 21 Dec. 2023 Several long, irregular arms also wind around its core, including the Centaurus, Sagittarius, Carina, Outer, and Local arms. WIRED, 12 Nov. 2023 Several long, irregular arms also wind around its core, including the Centaurus, Sagittarius, Carina, Outer and Local arms. Quanta Magazine, 28 Sep. 2023 This new information about the Centaurus A black hole fills in a gap at the mid-range size. Alex Fox, Smithsonian Magazine, 20 July 2021 The latest fundraising was led by BoltRock Holdings and Centaurus Capital. Aaron Pressman, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023 These irregular structures are the Centaurus, Sagittarius, Carina, Outer and Local Arms. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 28 Apr. 2023 Measuring the strength of that shifting reveals our total current speed—roughly 600 kilometers per second—and our direction: somewhere toward the constellation Centaurus. Paul Sutter, Ars Technica, 24 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Centaurus.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin (genitive Centauri)

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Centaurus was in 1550

Dictionary Entries Near Centaurus

Cite this Entry

“Centaurus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Centaurus. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

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