big dipper
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- elevated railway in an amusement park (usually with sharp curves and steep inclines)
- a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major