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Star of David

Star of David

6 3.8
A six-pointed star that stands for Judaism
  • noun
translation icon : Estrella de David
  • During the ceremony, she wore a beautiful necklace featuring a Star of David to honor her Jewish heritage.
  • wear the Star of David

Examples

  • Those in the ghettos were forced to wear a white armband with a blue Star of David on it.

  • The only jewelry Esther ever wore was a simple silver bracelet and the Star of David that hung around her neck on a gold chain.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • It's a Star of David.

  • I kept that Star of David.

  • A tiny Star of David.

  • This Star of David, as far as we can tell, belonged to him.

  • On one such evening, I spotted a building with a large cardboard Star of David outside.

    Fiction book (2002)
  • In Holland, a schoolteacher asked his students to help the Jews, by wearing the Star of David.

  • I was gripping the silver Star of David that Pedro had hung around my neck when we were engaged.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Just curious, I drew a Star of David for Kai, and didn't get the slightest response.

    Fiction book (1990)

Synonyms

Magen David
vsStar of David
1 6.5

A six-pointed star made from two overlapping triangles used as a Jewish symbol

is the standard modern name rather than this plain description
Mogen David
vsStar of David
8.4

A six-pointed star made from two triangles, used as a Jewish symbol

is the more commonly used modern name rather than this label
Solomon's seal
vsStar of David
9.1

A six-pointed star made by two equal triangles used as a symbol of Judaism

is the more common general name rather than this context-linked term
Shield of David
vsStar of David
6.0

A six-pointed star made from two overlapping triangles used as a Jewish symbol

is the usual modern name rather than this traditional label

Surface Forms

Star of David singular

Morphology

star + of + David

The phrase literally composes 'star' and 'David', so a B1 learner who knows those words can infer it denotes a star associated with the biblical figure David and likely a cultural or religious emblem. However, the specific conventionalized form (a six‑pointed star formed from two triangles) and its role as a symbol of Judaism are culturally specific and not fully predictable from the constituents alone, so prior exposure or cultural knowledge is needed.

Etymology

The symbol Star of David may come from the old name 'Magen David', which means 'shield of David'. One popular story says it was shown on King David's shield. The shape is made from two overlapping triangles, one pointing up and one pointing down, forming a six-pointed star, and that is why the Star of David is now a sign of 'Jewish identity'.