centaur

noun

cen·​taur ˈsen-ˌtȯr 

 also  -ˌtär

1

or less commonly Centaur : any of a race of creatures fabled to be half human and half horse and to live in the mountains of Thessaly

2

Centaur astronomy : any of a class of asteroids with elliptical orbits that typically lie between the orbits of Jupiter and Neptune

The Centaurs are distinguished dynamically as a group of objects whose orbits cross those of the Jovian planets and whose perihelions lie outside the orbit of Jupiter.

—Robert H. Brown et al.

Examples of centaur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Here's What Your Biggest Challenge in October Will Be, According to Your Zodiac Sign Venus and Chiron Heighten Our Insecurities Venus in Sagittarius makes a minor tie to the centaur Chiron, which is retrograde in Aries. —Lisa Stardust, People.com, 22 Oct. 2024

To get the relaxation started, Jupiter initiates a friendly relationship with Chiron, the centaur of healing. —Jennifer Culp, Them, 4 Oct. 2024

The day before the new moon, Mercury and the centaur Chiron share a conjunction in Aries. —Lisa Stardust, refinery29.com, 7 May 2024

In it, dozens of people dressed as knights, centaurs, and ogres participate in medieval LARPing while Webster, her face painted like a goblin, plays guitar in the center of the field. —Nina Corcoran, Pitchfork, 2 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin Centaurus, from Greek Kentauros

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

centaur

noun

cen·​taur ˈsen-ˌtȯ(ə)r 

: a creature in Greek mythology that is half human and half horse