Zodiac

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈzəʊ.dɪ.æk/
• US IPA: /ˈzoÊŠ.dɪ.æk/

Alternative forms

• zodiack obsolete
• Zodiac

Origin

Middle English (late 14th century), from Old French zodiaque, from Latin zōdiacus, from Ancient Greek ζωδιακός κύκλος (zōdiakos kuklos, "circle of little animals"), from ζώδι(αι)ον, the diminutive of ζῶον (zōon, "animal").

Full definition of zodiac

Noun

1. (astrology) The belt-like region of the celestial sphere approximately eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic, which thousands of years ago included the apparent path of the sun, moon, and planets.
2. (astrology) The twelve equal divisions of the astrological zodiacal region into signs, or houses, of the zodiac, each sign named after a constellation in this region.
3. (astronomy) The belt-like region of the celestial sphere corresponding to the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year, the ecliptic.
4. (countable) A circle decorated with the signs of the zodiac.
5. Any of various astrological systems considered similar to the above.
• 1998, Sylvia Sikundar and Barbara DuMoulin, Celebrating Our Cultures, Pembroke Publishers Limited, ISBN 978-1-55138-102-2, page 58:Discussing both Chinese and Western zodiacs might be a prewriting activity.

Derived terms