Ursa Minor
noun
Ur·sa Mi·nor
ˌər-sə-ˈmī-nər 
: 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
The Little Dipper, otherwise known as Ursa Minor, is hanging by its handle higher in the northern sky.
—
Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 2 Nov. 2025
Polaris is the brightest star in Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, and if the sky is dark and one is away from city lights the curve of the Little Dipper's handle is easier to see.
—Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
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
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Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 2 Nov. 2025
Polaris is the brightest star in Ursa Minor, the Little Bear, and if the sky is dark and one is away from city lights the curve of the Little Dipper's handle is easier to see.
—Jesse Emspak, Space.com, 20 Oct. 2025
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
Cite this Entry
“Ursa Minor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Ursa%20Minor. Accessed 1 Dec. 2025.
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Ursa Minor
noun
Ursa Mi·nor
-ˈmī-nər
: 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
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