star

STAHR/stɑɹ/STAH/stɑː(ɹ)/

Pluralstars

Verbstars, starring, starred

20 meanings of star

Practice

1
light in skynouncountable
A bright point of light in the night sky. It is a huge ball of very hot gas like our sun.
Like a tiny light shining far away in the dark sky.
We saw the first star appear just after sunset.
On clear nights, thousands of stars fill the sky.
Note
2
celebritynouncountable
A very famous person, or someone who is very good at something, such as a singer or sports player.
Like someone everyone in the room turns to look at.
She became a star after her very first movie.
Many young stars struggle with sudden fame.
UsageSay pop star or movie star. Star pupil means the best student.
Similarcelebrity, idol, icon, luminary, superstar
Oppositenobody, unknown
Note
3
have as leadverbtransitive
To be the main actor in a film or show, or to have someone as the main actor.
The new movie stars a famous actor from New York.
These films star the same young singer in the lead part.
UsageA movie stars an actor. An actor stars in a movie.
Similarfeature, headline
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4
quality ratingnouncountable
A small mark shaped like a star, used to show how good something is.
Like the gold stars a teacher puts on good schoolwork.
This hotel earned its fifth star last year.
The movie got four stars from most reviewers.
UsageSay a five-star hotel, but it got five stars.
5
nouncountable
An actor who plays one of the main parts in a show or movie.
Like the main player on a team that fans come to watch.
He was the star of the school play.
Both stars arrived late for the morning rehearsal.
UsageSay the star of the show.
Similarlead, headliner, principal
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6
pointed shapenouncountable
A flat shape whose edge goes out in sharp, even points and back in between them, usually four, five, or six.
He cut a star out of yellow paper for the top of the tree.
The cookie cutter makes stars, hearts, and circles.
UsageSay a five-pointed star.
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7
nouncountable
The thing or character that people notice most in a group, a meal, a story or an event.
The fresh mango was the star of the whole dessert.
In that cartoon, the talking dog is the real star.
UsageSay the star of the show for the best part.
Similarhighlight, centerpiece, standout
Note
8
written symbolnouncountable
A mark like * or ★ used in writing and on screens.
Like the little * mark you can find on a keyboard.
Type a star next to the words you want to save.
The form marks every required box with little stars.
UsageStar is an everyday name for *. Its precise name is asterisk.
Similarasterisk
Note

Less common meanings

9
verbtransitive
To put a star or asterisk next to something to point it out.
Like putting a sticker on your favorite page so you can find it again.
Please star the items you want to buy.
The teacher starred the best answers on the test.
Similarmark, flag, highlight
10
fatenouncountable
A bright point in the sky believed to shape someone's fate, or simply their luck or destiny.
Like a hidden power in the sky that people thought guided their life.
She thanked her lucky stars that the rain stopped before the wedding.
He was born under a lucky star, and things always seemed to go his way.
UsageSay thank your lucky stars when you are lucky.
Similarfate, luck, fortune, destiny
Note
11
military ranknouncountable
A star-shaped badge on a uniform that shows an officer's rank or an honor, and now also the rank itself.
Like a shiny badge that shows how important someone is.
The general wore a silver star on his uniform.
She earned her fourth star after years of service.
UsageSay a four-star general.
Note
12
big helpnouncolloquialUKcountablebritish
A person you thank or praise because they were very kind, helpful or generous.
Thanks for feeding the cat while I was away, you're a star.
My friend drove me to the hospital at midnight. She's an absolute star.
UsageSay You're a star! to thank someone.
Similarangel, gem, treasure
Note
13
burst of linesnouncountable
A shape made of a few lines that meet at the same middle point.
The ball hit the window and left a star of cracks in the glass.
She drew a little star by crossing three short lines at their centers.
Similarstarburst
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14
rise and fallnounfigurativelycountable
A person's success or fame, especially how it grows or fades over time.
Like a light that shines bright and then slowly goes dim.
Her star rose quickly after she won the award.
His star faded once the scandal broke.
UsageSay her star is rising.
Similarfortunes, fame
Note
15
verbintransitive
To shine brightly the way a star does in the night sky.
Similarsparkle, twinkle, glimmer, glitter, shine
16
verbtransitive
To cover or decorate something with stars or small points of bright light.
Like sprinkling shiny dots all over something dark.
Every spring, tiny white daisies star the lawn.
Frost had starred the window with glittering patterns overnight.
UsageOften starred with: a field starred with flowers.
Similarspangle, stud, dot, speckle
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17
friendnoundialectalJamaicaMulticultural London Englishcountable
A friend or buddy, often used when speaking warmly to someone you like.
Like calling someone 'buddy' to show they matter to you.
Thanks for having my back, star.
You good, star? I haven't seen you around in weeks.
UsageYou can put star after a greeting: What's up, star?
Similarbuddy, pal, mate, friend, bro
Note
18
noun
A small packed pellet inside fireworks that burns brightly and makes a starlike spark high in the sky.
19
noun
A way of connecting computers in which each one links to a single central hub.
20
noun
A dance move where four dancers join one hand in the middle and circle around together.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of star apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

It comes from Old English "steorra," meaning "star." This goes back to an ancient Indo-European root for "star."

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

Star descends from Old English steorra, meaning star. en.wiktionary.org
Its ancestry goes back to an Indo-European root meaning star. en.wikipedia.org