Centaurus

noun

Cen·​tau·​rus sen-ˈtȯr-əs 

: a southern constellation between the Southern Cross and Hydra (see Hydra sense 3)

Examples of Centaurus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The teams reached their conclusions by examining two galaxy groups — the Centaurus A group (one of the nearest to us, barring the Milky Way's local group), and the M81 group. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Mar. 2026

Along the southern Milky Way, from Orion to Scorpius, there are several other lustrous groupings, of which the Southern Cross (Crux) and the Centaur (Centaurus) each contain two stars of the first magnitude, just like Orion. — Joe Rao, Space.com, 8 Feb. 2026

Located around 3,800 light-years away in the constellation Centaurus, this system was discovered by the European Space Agency (ESA) star mapping spacecraft Gaia in 2023. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 1 Dec. 2025

But because of a unique CHSAA rule, Sand Creek — as well as two other teams in its league in Cheyenne Mountain (16th in the index) and Centaurus (20th) — is not eligible for the postseason. — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 Nov. 2025

Charlie Taylor and Macy Larson, juniors at Lafayette’s Centaurus High School, are regulars at the two new pingpong tables added to the school’s student center. — Jessica Seaman, Denver Post, 24 Aug. 2025

The dwarf galaxies of other galaxies, such as Centaurus A — the product of a major merger between two large galaxies — also orbit in a plane. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 22 Aug. 2025

To the left of the Cross (east) is Hadar, the second brightest star in Centaurus, the Centaur, and to the left of that is Alpha Centauri, also called Rigil Kentaurus, our nearest stellar neighbor. — Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 24 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin (genitive Centauri)

First Known Use

1550, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Centaurus

• homarus
• categorise
• larus
• parus