Big Dipper

Pronunciation: /bɪɡ ˈdɪpər/

Definitions of Big Dipper

noun a group of seven bright stars in the constellation Ursa Major, often used for navigation or stargazing

Example Sentences

A1 I saw the Big Dipper in the night sky.

A2 The Big Dipper is easy to spot because of its distinctive shape.

B1 Many people use the Big Dipper to find the North Star.

B2 The Big Dipper is part of the Ursa Major constellation.

C1 Astronomers study the Big Dipper to learn more about star formation.

C2 The Big Dipper has been used for navigation by sailors for centuries.

Examples of Big Dipper in a Sentence

formal The Big Dipper is a well-known asterism in the constellation Ursa Major.

informal Let's see if we can spot the Big Dipper in the night sky tonight.

slang I heard that the Big Dipper is like the coolest constellation out there.

figurative She felt like she was lost in a sea of stars, with the Big Dipper as her only guide.

Grammatical Forms of Big Dipper

• past tense: Big Dipperred
• plural: Big Dippers
• comparative: bigger Dipper
• superlative: biggest Dipper
• present tense: Big Dips
• future tense: will Big Dip
• perfect tense: has Big Dipped
• continuous tense: is Big Dipping
• singular: Big Dipper
• positive degree: Big Dipper
• infinitive: to Big Dip
• gerund: Big Dipping
• participle: Big Dipped

Origin and Evolution of Big Dipper

First Known Use: 0014 year

Language of Origin: English

Story behind the word: The term 'Big Dipper' originated from the constellation Ursa Major, which is often referred to as the Great Bear in Greek mythology.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'Big Dipper' became more commonly used to describe the seven prominent stars that form the shape of a ladle or dipper in the constellation Ursa Major, rather than referring to the entire constellation itself.