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.
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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 (Chrysophyllum Cainito), 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 (Nostoc
commune, N. edule, etc.). 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 (P. coronopus),
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.