Zodiacとは 意味・読み方・使い方

発音

• (英国発音) IPA: /ˈzəʊ.dɪˌæk/
• (米国発音) IPA: /ˈzoʊ.diˌæk/

語源 1

From 中期英語 zodiak (late 14th century), from Old French zodiaque, from Latin zōdiacus, from Ancient Greek ζῳδιακός [κύκλος] (zōidiakós [kúklos], “[circle] of little animals”), from ζῴδιον (zōídion), the diminutive of ζῷον (zōîon, “animal”).

別の表記

• zodiack (obsolete)
• Zodiac

名詞

zodiac (plural zodiacs)

1. (astrology) The belt-like region of the celestial sphere, approximately eight degrees north and south of the ecliptic, which includes the apparent path of the sun, moon, and visible planets.

   Synonym: (figurative, obsolete) baldric

   • 1769, Firishta, translated by Alexander Dow, Tales translated from the Persian of Inatulla of Delhi, volume I, Dublin: P. and W. Wilson et al., page iv:

     Tremulous on the bladed graſs ſhone bright the pearly drops, like an aſſembly of ſparkling ſtars dancing on the plains of the zodiac; vocal was every bending ſpray, every reed was inſpired, each vvarbling throat ſeemed to emulate the melodious voice of the bird of a thouſand ſongs.

2. (astrology) The twelve equal divisions of the zodiacal region into signs or houses, each named for a prominent constellation in the region.

   Synonym: star sign

   1. (astrology) The Chinese zodiac.
3. (astronomy) The ecliptic: the belt-like region of the celestial sphere corresponding to the apparent path of the sun over the course of a year.
4. Any of various astrological systems considered similar to the above.
   • 1998, Sylvia Sikundar, Barbara DuMoulin, Celebrating Our Cultures, Pembroke Publishers Limited, →ISBN, page 58:

     Discussing both Chinese and Western zodiacs might be a prewriting activity.

   • 1998, John H. Roger, “Origins of the ancient constellations: I. The Mesopotamian traditions”, in Journal of the British Astronomy Association, volume 108, number 1, page 10, column 1:

     So the Dendera Zodiac seems to be a complete copy of the Mesopotamian zodiac.

5. (countable) A circle decorated with the signs of the zodiac.

派生語

参考

• ecliptic
• zodiacal

語源 2

From the name of brand of inflatable boats produced by the French Zodiac Nautic company.

別の表記

• Zodiac

名詞

zodiac (plural zodiacs)

1. (nautical) A inflatable boat.

同意語

• inflatable boat