Centaur

1 8.2

A large group of stars in the southern sky near the Southern Cross

proper noun
/ˈsɛnˌtɔr/

: Centauro

Examples

At the opening ceremony of the Athens Games of 2004, a Centaur, a composite beast of classical mythology and teacher of Achilles, the greatest of heroes, offered cultural instruction.

Academic text (2010)
N4: Later that day, Percy sees a familiar-looking Centaur—half man, half horse.

Academic text (2010)
In astronomy, the constellation Centaur is often recognized for its distinct shape near the Southern Cross.
The bright stars of the Centaur constellation stand out in the night sky, captivating stargazers.
Many cultures have legends about the Centaur, linking it to various mythological tales and stories.

Synonyms

Centaurus

vsCentaur

2 8.8

A group of stars in the southern sky near the Southern Cross

is the alternate name used for that same constellation

Surface Forms

Centaur main

Etymology

Centaur comes from the old Greek name kentauros for a creature that was 'half-man, half-horse'. People named the group of stars after that creature because they saw a horse-man shape in the sky, so the constellation's name keeps that mythic image.