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star

star

∞ 1.1
A very famous and admired performer like an actor or musician
  • noun
  • /stɑr/
: estrella
  • The DA announced its star witness in the case today, hero cop Avery Cross, who, less than a year ago, was shot in the line of duty while trying to save two Schenectady residents from the alleged Moto Bandit.
  • a pop star
  • a movie star
  • a rock star

OK then, what about the apparent star of the show, AI?

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Examples

  • LeBron's this big star now, but to us it's feel like nothing's changed.

  • In the film industry, an actor's popularity can turn them into a household star almost overnight.

  • Even the best, the biggest stars in the world go through this.

  • What if the next big star is in this school?

  • It's cause our baby girl is a big star now.

  • That's when I was a pop star in England for about ten minutes.

    Academic text (2013)
  • You're all going to be big, big stars!

  • You're gonna go be a big movie star now, you don't need me.

  • Salsa sensation Marc Anthony became a crossover star after his English-language single release.

    Academic text (2013)
  • Photographs of three glamorous stars appeared atop the first page: Dietrich, Bankhead, and Garbo

    Academic text (2017)

Synonyms

celebrity
vsstar
683 2.3

A famous person who many people know and is often an actor or sports player

emphasizes talent and success rather than only public recognition
superstar
vsstar
217 2.8

A very famous and successful person in entertainment or sports

is used for famous or important people with less extreme fame
movie star
vsstar
208 1.0

A famous actor who plays leading parts in films

is limited to film actors rather than all famous performers
rock star
vsstar
173 3.1

A famous musician who plays rock music and attracts many fans

is focused on fame in general, not just within a music genre
famous person
vsstar
72 1.0

A person many people know because of their achievements

highlights notable talent or success rather than mere public recognition
sensation
vsstar
71 4.1

A person or thing that causes great public excitement

refers to established fame or importance rather than brief excitement
lion
vsstar
45 7.5

A person who is admired and often the main guest at events

expresses public recognition specifically for talent or success rather than admiration alone
celeb
vsstar
  • Slang
33 6.6

A famous person often from movies, music, or sports

is the more neutral or formal term not used as slang
TV star
vsstar
31 1.5

A person who is famous for appearing on TV shows as an actor or presenter

is specific to television fame rather than general public renown
headliner
vsstar
22 4.6

A performer who is the main act at a show

focuses on overall fame or importance, not only event top billing
film star
vsstar
16 2.3

A famous actor or actress who plays lead roles in movies

is specific to films rather than covering all types of public fame
16 3.0

A person or thing that stands out in a performance

describes an overall famous person rather than the single event's main act
6 1.8

A famous actor or presenter who appears often on TV

relates specifically to TV rather than to fame across many media
megastar
vsstar
5 3.2

A very famous and successful person, often in music or sports

signifies global dominance rather than general prominent status
opera star
vsstar
5 4.2

A famous singer who performs leading roles in operas

refers to famous people generally rather than solely opera performers
operatic star
vsstar
1 5.6

A very famous singer who sings main roles in operas

is the general term for famous individuals, not limited to opera

Idioms

A person or thing that stands out in a performance

7 6.3

To look at a star and make a wish hoping it will come true

Someone who often has good things happen by chance

Compounds

208 1.0

A famous actor who plays leading parts in films

173 3.1

A famous musician who plays rock music and attracts many fans

porn star
  • Offensive
53 4.3

A person who acts in films that show people having sex

31 1.5

A person who is famous for appearing on TV shows as an actor or presenter

26 2.0

A team member who is the best and most important

25 2.6

A bright streak of light in the night sky when a small rock from space burns up

The national flag of the United States with stars and stripes that stands for the country

Silver Star
  • Formal
19 5.9

A medal that the United States military gives for brave actions in battle

16 2.3

A famous actor or actress who plays lead roles in movies

16 3.5

Someone or something that brings good luck

16 3.5

A bright star almost still in the northern sky that people use to find north

Bronze Star
  • Formal
16 5.3

A United States military medal given for bravery or good service in a combat area

A very comfortable, expensive hotel with excellent service and many facilities

15 3.8

Containing many famous people like actors or singers

14 3.7

The national anthem of the United States with words by Francis Scott Key

neutron star
  • Specialized
13 7.4

A very small, very heavy star made almost entirely of neutrons

11 2.9

An athlete who is very good at running races on a track

10 3.8

A six-pointed star that stands for Judaism

8 5.7

A bright planet, usually Venus, seen in the east just before sunrise

A nickname for Texas, a large state in the United States in the south

7 4.5

A map that shows where stars and other things are in the sky

A person who really likes the Star Wars movies and stories

A famous actor or presenter who appears often on TV

5 4.2

A famous singer who performs leading roles in operas

giant star
  • Specialized
4 6.8

A very large bright star near the end of its life

one-star review
  • Texting
4 2.8

A comment that gives the lowest rating, usually one star

A very positive rating that says a product or service is top quality

binary star
  • Specialized
4 4.7

Two stars in space that move around a shared point because they pull on each other

adult star
  • NSFW
3 6.7

A person who acts in films that show sex scenes

The highest quality score on a five-point scale

star turn
  • Literature
3 6.4

A very good performance by an actor or entertainer that gets special attention

3 3.3

A bright planet, usually Venus, seen in the western sky at sunset

death star
  • Informal
3 8.1

A very large company or project that crushes smaller rivals

3 3.4

One of twelve parts in astrology that shows where the sun was when you were born

3 4.3

A star-shaped spice that tastes like licorice and is used in cooking

variable star
  • Specialized
2 6.1

A star that gets brighter and dimmer over time when seen from Earth

2 6.7

The brightest star in the night sky, also called Sirius

2 6.3

A United States military medal given for bravery or very good service in battle, not involving flying

2 3.4

A sea animal shaped like a star with five arms

2 5.3

A city that is famous and often visited by tourists

red giant star
  • Specialized
2 6.3

A very large, old star that shines bright and red

double star
  • Specialized
1 5.5

Two stars that are very close and usually move around each other

1 3.3

A plant with bright red leaves often used as a Christmas decoration

1 5.6

The star nearly above Earth's North Pole used to find direction at night

star chamber
  • Literature
1 9.9

A small group that secretly makes important decisions that are not fair

star sapphire
  • Specialized
1 7.4

A gem that shows a star of light on its surface when cut

white dwarf star
  • Specialized
1 5.9

A small, very dense, faint star left when a star like the Sun stops burning its fuel

1 5.7

An American military medal given for brave actions in battle

1 3.8

A yellow tropical fruit that makes a star shape when cut

fixed star
  • Archaic
1 9.8

A star thought to stay still in the sky while planets move

star vehicle
  • Literature
1 6.8

A film, play, or TV show made mainly to show a famous actor's talent

red dwarf star
  • Specialized
1 6.7

A small, cool star that shines red and lives for a very long time

golden star
  • Specialized
1 9.0

A plant with long narrow leaves and bright orange-yellow flowers that grows in dry open places in California

1 5.8

An important credit that names the main actor in a show

star-thistle
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A spiny plant with purple flowers that often grows as a weed

1 4.6

A bright star called Polaris that sits almost above Earth's north pole and shows true north

1 6.5

A plant that lives for many years and has clusters of blue, star-shaped flowers in the southeastern United States

feather star
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A sea animal with many feathery arms that can swim and lives on the sea floor

1 6.1

A person or idea that guides and inspires someone

star fort
  • Specialized
1 9.9

A strong defensive place with pointed walls that stick out like a star

flare star
  • Specialized
1 9.7

A small red star that suddenly becomes much brighter for a few minutes because of explosions on its surface

multiple star
  • Specialized
1 6.9

A group of three or more stars that orbit each other

1 9.6

A sea animal with a round body and many long, branching arms

1 6.8

A very senior navy officer ranked with five stars during wartime

1 6.7

A plant with tall stems and bright purple flowers

A European weed with spines and yellow flowers that invades fields

1 6.6

A book of maps that shows where stars and constellations are in the night sky

1 9.9

A former English court that held secret trials and punished people harshly

bar star
  • Informal
1 7.8

A bartender who is very good at making drinks and attracts many customers

A very famous singer who sings main roles in operas

1 4.6

A climbing evergreen plant with shiny dark green leaves and white star-shaped flowers that smell sweet

star topology
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A network where all devices connect to one central device

star grass
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A wildflower with grasslike leaves and small star-shaped flowers

How Famous

superstar
217 2.8
star
∞ 1.1
rising comer
1 8.2
local
242 1.2
unknown
520 2.3

Surface Forms

star singular
stars plural

Etymology

Star was used for a famous person because a top actor or singer 'shines' in public like a bright star in the sky. So a star now means someone very famous or important.