Venus

noun

Ve·​nus ˈvē-nəs 

1

: the Roman goddess of love and beauty compare aphrodite

2

: the planet second in order from the sun see Planets Table

Examples of Venus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

This Earth sign is also ruled by Venus, and the King is equally sentimental and passionate, believing in love at first sight. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 4 Mar. 2025

Cue the Mame handbag, that with its maxi shape in shiny or suede calfskin offers an everyday alternative to her sparkly and draped mesh styles, like the Yennefer bag or Venus La Grande clutch. —Stephen Garner, WWD, 3 Mar. 2025

With Venus retrograding in Aries, we’re invited to reimagine these themes through an Aries lens. —Colin Bedell, Them, 3 Mar. 2025

Just beneath Venus, near the horizon, tiny Mercury may be visible. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 3 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin Vener-, Venus, deified abstraction from an originally neuter common noun venus "sexual desire, qualities exciting desire, charm"; akin to Sanskrit vanate "(s/he) likes, takes pleasure in," -vana- "loving," vāñchati "(s/he) desires, wishes," Old English wȳscan "to wish," wunian "to remain, dwell," Old Norse una "to be satisfied"

Note: Latin venus, as probably also Vedic Sanskrit vanas-, a hapax legomenon of uncertain meaning, is an s-stem derivative from a verbal base going back to Indo-European *wenH- "wish, desire," most likely distinct from *wen- "struggle, gain"; see win entry 1.

First Known Use

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

Phrases Containing Venus

• Venus flytrap
• Venus hair
• Venus hair fern
• Venus's flower-basket

Rhymes for Venus

• cleanness
• freeness
• genus
• minas
• penis
• venous
• arteriovenous
• dominus
• fraxinus
• lupinus
• ricinus
• silenus

Kids Definition

Venus

noun

Ve·​nus ˈvē-nəs 

: the planet second in order from the sun see planet