Alpha Orionis

noun

Alpha Or·​i·​o·​nis -ˌȯr-ē-ˈō-nəs 

astronomy

: betelgeuse

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, "Alpha of Orion"

First Known Use

1802, in the meaning defined above

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!