Word of the day: Stellate

Stellate

[STEL-leyt]

Part of speech: adjective

Origin: Latin, 16th century

Arranged in a radiating pattern like that of a star.

Examples of stellate in a sentence

"My daughter arranged glow-in-the-dark stickers in a stellate pattern on the wall of her bedroom."

"The musician's dressing room had a stellate symbol scrawled on the door in marker."

About Stellate

“Stellate” is based on the Latin “stellātus,” meaning “starry.” This is based on the Latin “stēlla,” meaning “star.”

Did you Know?

In early use, “stellate” referred specifically to stars in the sky. In modern use, “stellate” is primarily used to describe things with a shape similar to a star: a central core with beams, points, or rays radiating outward. In this form, “stellate” has broad applications in medical language, where it is used to describe cells, groups of cells, veins, and other anatomy with a central core and extending points.