Definition

Noun: 1. A roller coaster: An elevated railway in an amusement park, typically featuring sharp curves and steep inclines. 2. An asterism: A group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major, also commonly known as the Plough or the Great Bear.

Usage Examples

• Noun (Roller Coaster):
  • The children screamed with excitement as the big dipper plunged down the first steep hill.
  • That amusement park is famous for its historic wooden big dipper.
• Noun (Asterism):
  • On a clear night, you can easily find the Big Dipper in the northern sky.
  • The two stars at the front of the Big Dipper's "bowl" point toward Polaris, the North Star.

Advanced Usage

• When referring to the astronomical feature, it is conventionally capitalized as the Big Dipper.
• The Big Dipper is not a constellation itself but an asterism, which is a recognizable pattern of stars within a larger constellation (Ursa Major).

Variants and Related Words

• The Plough (noun): A common British name for the same asterism.
• The Great Bear (noun): A name for the constellation Ursa Major, which contains the Big Dipper asterism.
• Roller coaster (noun): The more general term for the amusement ride; "big dipper" is a specific, often traditional, style or name for one.

Synonyms

• For the ride: Roller coaster, coaster.
• For the stars: The Plough, the Great Bear (specifically for the constellation), the Wagon (less common).

Related Idioms and Phrases

• To follow the arc to Arcturus: A navigational phrase using the Big Dipper. By following the curve of the Dipper's handle, one can find the bright star Arcturus.
• The Pointers: Refers to the two stars (Dubhe and Merak) at the end of the Big Dipper's bowl, which point directly to Polaris.

Noun

1. elevated railway in an amusement park (usually with sharp curves and steep inclines)
2. a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major