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zodiac

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈzəʊdiæk/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈzoʊdiˌæk/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(zō′dē ak′)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
zo•di•ac /ˈzoʊdiˌæk/USA pronunciation   n. [countable]
  1. Astrologya diagram representing the apparent paths of the sun, moon, and certain planets through certain constellations or signs.
zo•di•a•cal /zoʊˈdaɪəkəl/USA pronunciation  adj. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
zo•di•ac  (zō′dē ak′),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Astronomy, Astrologyan imaginary belt of the heavens, extending about 8° on each side of the ecliptic, within which are the apparent paths of the sun, moon, and principal planets. It contains twelve constellations and hence twelve divisions called signs of the zodiac. Each division, however, because of the precession of the equinoxes, now contains the constellation west of the one from which it took its name. Cf. sign of the zodiac. 
  2. Astrologya circular or elliptical diagram representing this belt, and usually containing pictures of the animals, human figures, etc., that are associated with the constellations and signs.
  3. a circuit or round.
  • Greek zōidiakòs (kýklos) signal (circle), equivalent. to zó̄idi(on) animal sign (zô(ion) animal + -idion diminutive suffix) + -akos -ac
  • Latin zōdiacus
  • 1350–1400; Middle English zodiaque

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
zodiac /ˈzəʊdɪˌæk/ n
  1. an imaginary belt extending 8° either side of the ecliptic, which contains the 12 zodiacal constellations and within which the moon and planets appear to move. It is divided into 12 equal areas, called signs of the zodiac, each named after the constellation which once lay in it
    See zodiacal constellation
  2. a diagram, usually circular, representing this belt and showing the symbols, illustrations, etc, associated with each of the 12 signs of the zodiac, used to predict the future
Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French zodiaque, from Latin zōdiacus, from Greek zōidiakos (kuklos) (circle) of signs, from zōidion animal sign, carved figure, from zōion animalzodiacal /zəʊˈdaɪəkəl/ adj
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
sign′ of the zo′diac, [Astrol.]
  1. Astrologyone of the twelve constellations along the path of the ecliptic.
  2. Astrology(in contemporary Western astrology) one of the twelve divisions of the ecliptic, each consisting of 30 degrees, marked off from the point of the vernal equinox. See illus. at zodiac. 
  • 1865–70

'zodiac' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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