Ursa Minor

noun

Ur·​sa Mi·​nor ˌər-sə-ˈmī-nər How to pronounce Ursa Minor (audio)
: a constellation that includes the north pole of the heavens and the stars which form the Little Dipper with the North Star at the tip of the handle

called also Little Bear

Examples of Ursa Minor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Unlike Ursa Minor's Jeep Wrangler J30 pop-top, which rises highest at the rear but also lifts at the front, the Two Track is hinged at the rear, with all the lifting happening up front. New Atlas, 19 Aug. 2025 The dimmer Little Dipper, which doubles as Ursa Minor or the Little Bear, is standing up on its handle with its only bright star Polaris, otherwise known as the North Star, at the end of the handle. Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 3 Aug. 2025 Polaris is the end of the handle of the Little Dipper, the asterism that makes up most of Ursa Minor, the Little Bear. Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 25 June 2025 Look to the constellations Ursa Major and Ursa Minor for this shower’s radiant point. Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 17 Mar. 2025 Leung was able to combine data from several different telescopes to narrow down the likely position of a repeating FRB, first detected in February 2024, located in the constellation Ursa Minor. Ars Technica, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin (genitive Ursae Minoris), literally, lesser bear

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Ursa Minor was in 1638

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Cite this Entry

“Ursa Minor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ursa%20Minor. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

Ursa Minor

noun
Ursa Mi·​nor -ˈmī-nər How to pronounce Ursa Minor (audio)
: the group of stars that includes the north pole of the heavens and the stars which form the Little Dipper with the North Star at the tip of the handle

called also Little Bear

More from Merriam-Webster on Ursa Minor

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