spica

1 of 2

noun (1)

spi·​ca ˈspī-kə 

plural spicae ˈspī-ˌkē  or spicas

: a bandage that is applied in successive V-shaped crossings and is used to immobilize a limb especially at a joint

Spica

2 of 2

noun (2)

Spi·​ca ˈspī-kə 

: a star of the first magnitude in the constellation Virgo

Examples of spica in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Spica, the brightest star in Virgo, sits roughly 250 light-years away. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 25 Aug. 2025

Spica, which appears as a dazzling blue-white star to the unaided eye, is in fact a binary star system composed of two massive stellar bodies that orbit one another with a separation of just 11 million miles (18 million kilometers). — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 26 Aug. 2025

Noun

For Spica, a father of three, the impact is immediate. — Rajesh Kumar Singh, USA Today, 19 Feb. 2026

The blue-white double star system Alpha Virginis — known better as Spica — is located roughly 250 light-years from Earth in the constellation Virgo. — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 2 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Latin, ear of grain — more at spine

Noun (2)

Latin, literally, ear of grain

First Known Use

Noun (1)

circa 1731, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for spica

• mica
• micah
• pica
• formica

Medical Definition

spica

noun

spi·​ca ˈspī-kə 

plural spicae -ˌkē  or spicas

: a bandage that is applied in successive V-shaped crossings and is used to immobilize a limb especially at a joint

also : such a bandage impregnated with plaster of paris

a spica cast applied at the hip