Circinus
[ sur-suh-nuh s ]
/ ˈsɜr sə nəs /
noun, genitive Cir·ci·ni [sur-suh-nahy] /ˈsɜr səˌnaɪ/. Astronomy.
the Compasses, a small southern constellation between Triangulum and Centaurus.
Origin of Circinus
Borrowed into English from Latin around 1830–40
Example sentences from the Web for circinus
Circinus, the Compass, is a very small constellation lying between Triangulum and Centaurus.
Astronomical Curiosities |J. Ellard GoreCircinatus is from circinus, a pair of compasses, hence means rounded like a circle.
The Mushroom, Edible and Otherwise |M. E. Hard
British Dictionary definitions for circinus
Circinus
/ (ˈsɜːsɪnəs) /
noun Latin genitive Circini (ˈsɜːsɪˌnaɪ)
a small faint constellation in the S hemisphere close to Centaurus and the Southern Cross
Word Origin for Circinus
C19: from Latin, a pair of compasses