star
/stɑː(r)/ IELTSAcademic
noun
- 1.
A star is a large ball of hot gas in space that gives out its own light and heat. The Sun is a star.
- The night sky was full of stars.
- The Sun is a star.
- 2.
A star is a famous and successful performer, athlete, or other public figure. It can also mean the best person in a group.
- She became a movie star.
- Ravi is the star of the team.
verb
If a film, show, or book stars someone, that person has the main role. If someone stars in something, they appear in it as an important actor.
- The film stars Priyanka Chopra.
- He starred in a popular TV series.
Adinary Nuance
Use star when you mean a famous person or the main performer. Celebrity means a person who is well known, but not always admired for talent. Icon is stronger and often suggests lasting importance or influence. Star is the most common and flexible word in everyday speech.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- ngôi sao
- Spanish
- estrella
- Chinese
- 星星
- Japanese
- 星
- Korean
- 별
Etymology
Old English steorra, from Proto-Germanic. The word has been used in English for more than 1,000 years.
Common phrases
movie starstar playerstar of the showfive-star
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between star and celebrity?
- A star usually means a talented performer or top person. A celebrity is just someone well known.
- Can I use star for a very good student or worker?
- Yes, in informal English. It means the person is the best in that group.
- Is star a common word in business or academic writing?
- Yes, but mostly in general meaning, not in formal technical writing.
- Can star be a verb?
- Yes. It means to have the main role in a film, show, or event.