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3. (Astrol.) A planet supposed to influence one's destiny; (usually pl.) a configuration of the planets,
supposed to influence fortune.
O malignant and ill-brooding stars. Shak.
Blesses his stars, and thinks it luxury. Addison. 4. That which resembles the figure of a star, as an ornament worn on the breast to indicate rank or
honor.
On whom . . .
Lavish Honor showered all her stars. Tennyson. 5. Specifically, a radiated mark in writing or printing; an asterisk [thus, *]; — used as a reference to a
note, or to fill a blank where something is omitted, etc.
6. (Pyrotechny) A composition of combustible matter used in the heading of rockets, in mines, etc.,
which, exploding in the air, presents a starlike appearance.
7. A person of brilliant and attractive qualities, especially on public occasions, as a distinguished orator,
a leading theatrical performer, etc.
Star is used in the formation of compound words generally of obvious signification: as, star-aspiring,
star-bespangled, star-bestudded, star-blasting, star-bright, star-crowned, star-directed, star-eyed,
star-headed, star-paved, star- roofed; star-sprinkled, star-wreathed.
Blazing star, Double star, Multiple star, Shooting star, etc. See under Blazing, Double, etc. —
Nebulous star (Astron.), a small well- defined circular nebula, having a bright nucleus at its center like
a star. — Star anise (Bot.), any plant of the genus Illicium; — so called from its star-shaped capsules.
— Star apple (Bot.), a tropical American tree having a milky juice and oblong leaves with a silky-
golden pubescence beneath. It bears an applelike fruit, the carpels of which present a starlike figure
when cut across. The name is extended to the whole genus of about sixty species, and the natural
order (Sapotaceæ) to which it belongs is called the Star-apple family. — Star conner, one who cons,
or studies, the stars; an astronomer or an astrologer. Gascoigne. — Star coral (Zoöl.), any one of
numerous species of stony corals belonging to Astræa, Orbicella, and allied genera, in which the calicles
are round or polygonal and contain conspicuous radiating septa. — Star cucumber. (Bot.) See under
Cucumber. — Star flower. (Bot.) (a) A plant of the genus Ornithogalum; star-of-Bethlehem. (b)
See Starwort (b). (c) An American plant of the genus Trientalis (Trientalis Americana). Gray. —
Star fort (Fort.), a fort surrounded on the exterior with projecting angles; — whence the name. —
Star gauge (Ordnance), a long rod, with adjustable points projecting radially at its end, for measuring
the size of different parts of the bore of a gun. — Star grass. (Bot.) (a) A small grasslike plant (Hypoxis
erecta) having star-shaped yellow flowers. (b) The colicroot. See Colicroot. — Star hyacinth
(Bot.), a bulbous plant of the genus Scilla (S. autumnalis); — called also star-headed hyacinth. —
Star jelly (Bot.), any one of several gelatinous plants See Nostoc. — Star lizard. (Zoöl.) Same as
Stellion. — Star- of-Bethlehem (Bot.), a bulbous liliaceous plant (Ornithogalum umbellatum) having
a small white starlike flower. — Star-of-the-earth (Bot.), a plant of the genus Plantago growing upon
the seashore. — Star polygon (Geom.), a polygon whose sides cut each other so as to form a star-
shaped figure. — Stars and Stripes, a popular name for the flag of the United States, which consists
of thirteen horizontal stripes, alternately red and white, and a union having, in a blue field, white stars to
represent the several States, one for each.
With the old flag, the true American flag, the Eagle, and the Stars and Stripes, waving over the chamber
in which we sit. D. Webster. — Star showers. See Shooting star, under Shooting. — Star thistle (Bot.), an annual composite
plant (Centaurea solstitialis) having the involucre armed with radiating spines. — Star wheel (Mach.),
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