astronomic
/,æstrə'nɔmik/ Cách viết khác : (astronomical) /,æstrə'nɔmikəl/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- Adjective:
- Inconceivably large: Of a size, amount, or degree that is so immense it is difficult to comprehend or measure.
- Relating to astronomy: Of or belonging to the science that studies celestial bodies and the universe as a whole.
Usage and Examples
Meaning: Inconceivably large:
- The company is facing astronomic debts that threaten its survival.
- The cost of the new infrastructure project is simply astronomic.
Meaning: Relating to astronomy:
- The observatory houses an astronomic telescope used for deep-space observation.
- He made several important astronomic calculations regarding the planet's orbit.
Advanced Usage
- "astronomic(al) figures/numbers/sums": Used to describe quantities, especially of money, that are extremely and often shockingly high.
- The lawsuit resulted in an astronomic settlement figure.
- "astronomic(al) unit": A technical term in astronomy (often abbreviated AU) representing the mean distance from the Earth to the Sun, used as a standard measure within the solar system. (Note: This is a specific compound term listed here as it is a direct application of the 'relating to astronomy' meaning.)
Variants and Related Words
- Astronomical (adj): The more common variant, identical in meaning and usage to 'astronomic'.
- Astronomical prices are keeping customers away.
- Astronomically (adv): To an astronomic degree or extent.
- Prices have risen astronomically in the last decade.
- Astronomy (n): The scientific study of celestial objects and phenomena.
- She decided to study astronomy at university.
Synonyms
- Colossal: Extremely large.
- Staggering: So great as to cause astonishment or disbelief.
- Celestial: Pertaining to the sky or heavens (synonymous with the 'astronomy' sense).
Antonyms
- Minuscule: Extremely small.
- Negligible: So small or unimportant as to be not worth considering.
- Terrestrial: Of or relating to the earth (antonym for the 'astronomy' sense).
Notes on Usage
- The adjectives astronomic and astronomical are fully interchangeable. Astronomical is the more frequently used form in modern English, especially in figurative contexts describing very large amounts.
- When used in its scientific sense ("relating to astronomy"), it typically precedes a noun like , , , or .
Adjective
- inconceivably large
- relating or belonging to the science of astronomy
- astronomic telescope