star1 nounstar2 verb
starstar1 /stɑː $ stɑːr/ ●●● S2 W2 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINstar1
Origin:
Old English steorraEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- 'Blair Witch' star Heather Donahue has landed a new role in a college reunion film called 'Seven and a Match'.
- After college, Weiss became a star in sports journalism.
- Eddie Murphy is one of the most successful stars in Hollywood.
- Former tennis star Bj"rn Borg also attended the reception.
- His first movie made him a star.
- Hollings' latest movie role could make her a big star.
- If he becomes a big TV star, we'll probably never hear from him again.
- James Caan was a big star in the '70s.
- John Cusack is one of my favourite movie stars.
- Peter Fonda is best known as the star of 'Easy Rider' and other 1960s biker films.
- She was once married to a well-known football star.
- Sonya's the class star.
- The stars are beautiful tonight.
- The flag's fifty stars represent the fifty states.
- They're all strong players, but Laura's undoubtedly the star of the team.
- Woodward continues to be the Post's star reporter.
- A., Aragon, much like a movie star, was mobbed wherever he went.
- Fenster rating: 3 out of 5 stars.
- If she had stayed, all would have been different; it wasn't in her stars to stay.
- Light and darkness, for example, are described before the sun, moon and stars.
- They know the law of gravity that rules planets and stars and the universe at large.
- When the dark edge of the satellite passed across a star, it dimmed briefly before the moment of eclipse.
- With the flash of a million stars exploding, his brain registered its outrage as he was viciously felled.
THESAURUSin the sky
a large ball of burning gas in space, which can be seen at night as a point of light in the sky: · The dark night sky was clear and full of stars.
one of the large objects that goes around the Sun, for example the Earth, Saturn, Mercury, or Mars: · The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781.
the star that gives us light and heat, around which the planets move. There are also many millions of other suns in the universe: · The sun came out from behind a cloud.· a dying sun
the round object that moves around the Earth every 28 days, or a similar object that goes around another planet: · The moon rose in the night sky.· Titan is one of the moons of Saturn.
a mass of rock that moves around the sun. Most asteroids are found between Jupiter and Mars: · the asteroid belt
a type of star that is far away in space and produces radiation and radio waves
an object like a star that is far away in space and shines extremely brightly
a very large exploding star
a group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name: · The constellation of Orion is one of the most easily recognizable patterns of stars in the night sky.
one of the large groups of stars that make up the universe: · Astronomers have detected a galaxy 11 billion light years away.
all space, including all the stars and planets: · How many planets in the universe have life?
Longman Language Activatorthe most important actor in a play, film etc · Peter Fonda is best known as the star of 'Easy Rider' and other 1960s biker films.· 'Blair Witch' star Heather Donahue has landed a new role in a college reunion film called 'Seven and a Match'.
one of two or more actors who are equally important in a play or film: · Stan Laurel appeared in many comedies with his co-star Oliver Hardy.· Hepburn was Humphrey Bogart's co-star in the movie 'African Queen'.
someone who performs in plays, films etc someone who performs in plays, films etc: · Leonardo DiCaprio is my favourite actor -- he's so good-looking!· Actor Sidney Poitier was honoured with a Life Achievement Award.· Ben Chaplin is an English actor who had a small part in 'Remains of the Day'.
a woman who performs in plays, films etc: · Julia Roberts is one of the most famous actresses in Hollywood.· Capucine, the French movie actress whose leading roles included one with Peter Sellers in 'The Pink Panther', died after falling from a window.
a famous actor or actress: · Eddie Murphy is one of the most successful stars in Hollywood.big star: · James Caan was a big star in the '70s.
British /movie star American a famous actor or actress who acts in films: · Her real ambition is to be a movie star, not just an actress on the stage.· Film stars like Michael Caine are trying to revive the British film industry by making movies in England.
British informal an actor or actress - used especially about groups of actors who behave towards each other in a very friendly way that is not sincere: · There's nothing worse than watching a bunch of luvvies giving speeches at some awful awards ceremony.
all the people who act in a play or film: · Films like 'Ben Hur' were made with a cast of thousands.· The entire cast of the play deserves praise for this performance.
the best people or things in a group · She was the best in her class at college.· I chose a Japanese camera because I wanted to have the best.the best in his/her field (=the person who knows most about a particular subject) · When it comes to cancer research, Professor Williams is probably the best in her field.
the best player in a team, the best student in a class etc: · Sonya's the class star.star of: · They're all strong players, but Laura's undoubtedly the star of the team.star player/performer/student/pupil etc: · Woodward continues to be the Post's star reporter.
the small number of people who are the very best in a particular group, because they are the most intelligent or the most highly skilled: · The cream of India's scientists are being attracted abroad by highly paid jobs.the cream of the crop (=the best people or things in a particular group): · Universities such as Harvard accept only the cream of the crop.
: elite troops/group/college etc a group of people who are the best, and most highly trained or educated: · The palace is guarded by elite troops loyal to the president.· In 1978 he joined the CRS, France's elite corps of riot police.
also the pick of the bunch British informal the one that you think is the best among a group of people or things, especially a small group: · This last poem's my favorite -- definitely the pick of the bunch.· They've come out with several good wines this year, but in my opinion the chardonnay is the best of the bunch.
a famous person a very famous and successful actor, entertainer, or sports player: · Hollings' latest movie role could make her a big star.movie/rock/tennis etc star: · John Cusack is one of my favourite movie stars.· She was once married to a well-known football star.big star: · If he becomes a big TV star, we'll probably never hear from him again.
also celeb informal someone who is well known, for example as an entertainer or sports player, and who is often seen on television or written about in newspapers: · People waited outside for the chance to see some celebrities.· The bar is a good place to go if you want to spot some celebs.TV/showbusiness/media etc celebrity: · The club is popular with media celebrities and literary types.celebrity interview/photograph/biography etc: · Mattie reads mainly tabloids and celebrity biographies.celebrity golf tournament/game show (=in which celebrities take part): · Nash played in a celebrity golf tournament while in Canada.minor celebrity (=not extremely famous, popular, or successful): · Six minor celebrities took part in the charity "Big Brother" programme.
an actor, musician, or sports player who is famous all over the world: · Janet Jackson became a superstar largely because of her exciting music videos.radio/TV/basketball etc superstar: · Hockey superstar Wayne Gretzky played for L.A. before retiring.
someone who is well known because they often appear on television and at public events: · For years she was one of the best-loved personalities in the newspaper gossip columns.TV/radio/sports etc personality: · Radio personality Don Imus has gotten in trouble again for what he said on the air.
informal a famous and successful performer: · Eric Hawkins, one of the big names of modern American dance
someone who has become very famous over a long period of time, especially because they are very good at a particular activity: · Among Mexican music fans, Fernandez is a legend.living legend/legend in somebody's own lifetime (=someone who has become a legend while still alive): · Michael Jordan is a living legend of basketball.
a person, company, or product that is a household name is so famous that everyone knows their name: · Coca-Cola is a household name all over the world.make somebody/something a household name: · Ralph Nader's consumer activism has made him a household name in the U.S.
to become famous · Many people dream of becoming famous.· The brand name has become well known in Britain through clever advertising.become famous overnight (=very suddenly) · With the success of their first record, they became famous overnight.
to become well known, especially as a result of hard work or an unusual achievement: · Clint Eastwood first made a name for himself in the TV series "Rawhide".make your name/make a name for yourself as: · By the time he was 30, Evans had made his name as the editor of "The Sunday Times".· She is beginning to make a name for herself as a fashion designer.
to become famous, especially suddenly: · John Lydon shot to fame in the mid-1970s as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols.· She won fame as the youngest-ever Olympic champion gymnast.
to become famous for something bad: · The director's films have achieved notoriety for their graphic depiction of violence.achieve a certain notoriety (=become slightly famous for something): · The club has achieved a certain notoriety as a meeting place for criminals and drug dealers.
to suddenly become very famous and receive a lot of attention from the newspapers, television etc, sometimes only for a short time: · The island hit the headlines last year when huge tidal waves killed 2,000 people.· The bizarre court case was shown on TV and made headlines around the world.
someone, especially a young person, who is quickly becoming more and more famous: · She's one of the rising stars of politics and an excellent public speaker.
WORD SETSasteroid, nounastro-, prefixastronaut, nounastronomical, adjectiveastronomy, nounastrophysics, nounAU, aurora borealis, nounBig Bang, the, nounblack hole, nouncelestial, adjectivecomet, nounconstellation, nouncorona, nouncosmic, adjectivecosmic ray, nouncosmology, nouncosmonaut, noundead, adjectiveearth, nouneclipse, nouneclipse, verbecliptic, nounequinox, nounescape velocity, nounextraterrestrial, adjectivegalactic, adjectivegalaxy, noungeostationary orbit, nounHubble Space Telescope, the, infinity, nounintergalactic, adjectiveinterplanetary, adjectiveinterstellar, adjectiveJupiter, nounlaunch, verblaunch, nounlight year, nounLittle Bear, lunar, adjectivelunar month, nounmagnitude, nounMars, nounMercury, nounmeteor, nounmeteoric, adjectivemeteorite, nounMilky Way, the, month, nounmoon, nounmorning star, nounNASA, nounnebula, nounNeptune, nounnew moon, nounnova, nounobservatory, nounorbit, verborbit, nounorbiter, nounouter space, nounphase, nounplanet, nounplanetarium, nounplasma, nounPluto, nounquadrant, nounquarter, nounquasar, nounradio telescope, nounring, nounrocket, nounsatellite, nounSaturn, nounsea, nounshooting star, nounsolar, adjectivesolar system, nounspace, nounspace capsule, nounspacecraft, nounspace probe, nounspaceship, nounspace shuttle, nounspace station, nounstar, nounstargazer, nounsteady state theory, nounstellar, adjectivesun, nounsunspot, nounsupernova, nountelescope, nountelescopic, adjectiveterrestrial, adjectiveUranus, nounVenus, nounwane, verbwax, verbwhite dwarf, nounworld, nounzenith, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Meaning 1verbs
Early explorers used to navigate by the stars. a star pupil (=a very good one) Francesca was a rising star in the cinema. star-crossed lovers (=people who love each other but cannot be together) MGM made the film as a star vehicle for Brando.
· I looked up and saw hundreds of stars shining in the sky.
(=shines with an unsteady light)· Stars began to twinkle in the darkening night sky.
(=appear in the sky)· We arrived home just as the stars were coming out.
(=they are shining)· There was a full moon, and the stars were out.
· I had spent a lot of time looking up at the stars as a kid.
(=in a place with no roof)· In the desert, they slept out under the stars.
adjectives· the brightest star in the night sky
· The star is faint but visible.
(=very far away)· He stared up towards the distant stars.
phrases (=a small group of stars close together in the sky)· He fixed his telescope on a tiny little cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus.
Meaning 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + star (=a very famous and successful star)· He has worked with some of the world’s biggest stars.
(also a film star especially British English)· He looked like a movie star.
· Who’s your favourite pop star?
· Most TV stars do quite a lot of charity work.
(=a star in a television soap opera)· She was known as a soap star before she took up singing.
· Sam was a football star in college.
(=a star who is famous in many countries)· His performance in 'The Titanic' made him an international star.
(=someone who is becoming famous and successful)· She is very much the rising star of Black American fiction.
(=a child who is a famous performer)· The production team say they have been careful to look after all their child stars.
star + NOUN (=a special quality that could make someone a star)· She radiates genuine star quality.
(=special treatment that a star gets)· Winners get star treatment from the media.
(=a film or television programme that is intended to show the abilities of one particular star)· He denied that the movie was just a star vehicle for Tom Hanks.
phrases (=a star who has been in plays and films)· Now this much-loved star of stage and screen has been made a Dame.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=someone or something that many people want to see)· The former president was the star attraction of the conference.
(=a lot of very famous actors)· The movie features an all-star cast.
(=a very famous comedy actor or actress)· The main role in the film is played by comedy star Whoopi Goldberg.
· They saw telescope images of the distant planet Neptune.
(=be one of the main characters in a film)· Robert Mitchum starred in a film called 'River of No Return' with Marilyn Monroe.
· The film starred Brad Pitt.
· John Voight, the American film star, is perhaps best known for his Oscar winning performance in 'Midnight Cowboy'.
(=a hotel that has been given a particular rating)· On our honeymoon, we stayed in a four-star hotel in Paris.
(=play one of the main characters)· Depp will star in director Tim Burton’s next movie.
· a movie starring Will Smith
· She looked like a movie star.
Early explorers used to navigate by the stars. (=the potential to be a star in music, films etc)· The woman who spotted Kate’s star potential was Sarah Doukas.
a star pupil (=a very good one) (=a number of star symbols that shows a level of quality etc)· Each restaurant is given a star rating.
Francesca was a rising star in the cinema. (=one of the most important roles)· She was offered the starring role in a new British stage comedy.
· Very quickly, Williams became the star of the show.
star-crossed lovers (=people who love each other but cannot be together) MGM made the film as a star vehicle for Brando. (=an important witness who says things that help one side a lot)· The judge ruled that the state’s star witness had lied on the stand.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· The developers have tried to make it as realistic as possible and the game includes some of the sport's biggest stars.· Sure, sure, I know the networks like to spread their big stars all over the prime-time lot.· He was not a big star at the time and it was just a good song.· Who will be the biggest star of the Olympics?· There was a big gold star on the door.· Not like a big star at all.· His name and his music opened the new National Bowl, promoted now as a major venue for big rock stars.· They wanted maybe a big star.
· A spectrograph measures how bright a star is at any given wavelength.· Even as it was, the glare of the Earth, filling half the sky, drowned all but the brighter stars.· Most of the brighter stars plotted are of the second magnitude, while the fainter ones are of the fourth.· Discovered in the early 1960s, quasars at first seemed to be small, bright stars.· Then it erupted in a shower of cold, bright stars, brilliant with a sharp, astonishing, searing pain.· Also in the line of the rings was the bright star of Titan, and the fainter sparks of the other moons.· Capella is the sixth brightest star in the sky.· Away from the haze and lights of the city, bright stars fill the spectacularly clear sky.
· I have sent thank-you cards to all my lucky stars by first-class post.· He was probably even now thanking his lucky stars for a narrow escape.· The Bruins this morning are thanking their lucky stars for goaltender Bill Ranford.
· With other semi-regular stars, the periods are so ill-defined as to be barely recognizable, and sometimes the fluctuations become random.· No other stars are seen close to the radio position.· And Lancashire's other pace star, Phil DeFreitas, also has reason to catch the Essex captain's eye.· Her appeal to all generations was now something that separated her from almost any other pop star of her generation.· We know of other stars whose brightness changes periodically, over a timespan of hours, weeks or years.· Such weak interactions underlie the processes that fuel the Sun and other stars.· Pioneering producer Hal Roach also launched a host of other silent film stars including Harold Lloyd.· He determined the amount of neutral gas lying in front of Beta Canis Majoris and in front of 10 other stars in a similar direction.
· He's leaving, apparently, to become a pop star, and why not?· So goes life for an aspiring teen-age pop star who still wants to play baseball in his senior year of high school.· Ever fancied recreating the comedy deaths of pop stars?· He had never intended the group to become pop stars - and Rotten's increasingly self-important behaviour was a worry.· Today researchers reveal who pop stars look up to, who they hate and how in touch with reality they are.· But by far the most popular answers for boys and girls respectively were footballer and pop star.· I can't understand why people want to be pop stars.· She really is an inspiration-and a pop star in the making.
· In part two: Cancer lifeline ... the new drug that could stop a killer spreading. Rising star.· His name was Mahmoud el Zaki and he was one of the Parquet's rising stars.· A chance to spot the rising stars of the sport.· As Chief Secretary to the Treasury, he is the youngest member of the Cabinet and its fastest rising star.· His main rival at the Express was another young rising star, Kelvin Mackenzie, who handled news.· And he will be pleasantly surprised to see that only three horses line up against his rising star.
· People in the rear craned to get a glimpse of the legendary rock star.· Biggest Surprise: The continuing transformation of Courtney Love from rock star grunge to classic elegance.· And Rod, infamous for his years of rock star excess, insisted he had no worries about Ruby going into showbiz.· Are movies stars aping rock stars?· I mean, look at all the rock stars dying on heroin.· Adolescent fans crowd around him, begging for autographs as if he were a rock star.
· The young stars played sixteen-year-old lovers.· She ran off with a younger film star.· It didn't deter many of Hollywood's young stars in those days of silent movies from using drugs.· Yet the solar radiation from the sun, then a faint, young star, was approximately 30 percent less.· Academicians and up and coming young stars were offered honoured commissions for which they were well paid.· She was interested in promoting the careers of young stars.
NOUN· A millionaires' row for the aristocracy, film stars and the kings of international business empires.· Griffith and Mack Sennett both filmed in the area while silent film star Tom Mix was an early developer.· It will include an interview with film star Stewart Granger with whom Roma once appeared in a play on Broadway.· They were all a bunch of spoiled, badly behaved film stars and he had no patience with any of them.· The pornographic film star Ilona Staller, alias La Cicciolina, has withdrawn from the lists, pleading marital pressure and pregnancy.· Hedy Lamarr, the film star who was billed as the most beautiful woman in the world, has died aged 86.· She ran off with a younger film star.· Nigel wondered if any film star would be discerning enough to employ him if he applied for a chauffeur's job.
· No one knew whether the civil jury would hold the former football star liable for two brutal murders.· And the police clearly fed the flames by publicly announcing they were investigating the football stars.· And he had no shortage of women, did he? Football stars are well supplied with female groupies.· Jurors took less than a half-hour Thursday to clear professional football star Warren Moon of assaulting his wife.· He was a football star in college.· In addition to excelling academically, Mr Packard was a football star and big man around campus.· Though football star Dan Marino and swimsuit models were on hand, it was the Hansons who were mobbed.
· The Germanic cavalry often had morning stars made entirely of iron.· The stars were leaving the sky; even the lingering morning star was dim.· The Enlightenment was the morning star of modernity.· The morning star has withdrawn behind the curtain of light to wait for its chance to shine again tomorrow.· The planet they call the evening star, the morning star.· Or maybe something like the morning star that still hung in the dawning sky.· Venus and Jupiter, year in and year out, Contend for the crown Of morning star and of evening star.
· Will Hollywood movie stars leave all the on-screen action to their stunt men?· He wasn't just an actor or even just a movie star.· There was the disastrous decision to draft future movie star Brian Bosworth.· Oh yes, and Hollywood, movie stars, freeways, Baywatch and smog.· Walker had been consuming news space like a movie star in a fever of insecurity.· This face belongs to a great movie star, although you don't know it yet.· Flashbulbs fired like movie stars were coming.
· This is about a factor of 3 smaller than current best estimates of the neutron star radius.· Despite such small size, a neutron star can contain as much mass as 500, 000 Earthsized planets.· They were therefore called neutron stars.· It is also too large a mass to be a neutron star.· In this context, a neutron star is effectively a single atomic nucleus.· It is highly relevant to ask what values have been measured for neutron star masses; do they fall in with expectation?· In the standard formation model, millisecond pulsars are formed when a neutron star accretes matter from an evolving companion.· Another such state is a neutron star.
VERB· He's leaving, apparently, to become a pop star, and why not?· She then became a star basketball player in high school, taking her team to the state championship.· While others had comparatively modest ambitions, her heart was set on becoming a star.· Only gradually did it dawn on me that I would never become a star.· Fortunately for us both, Dulcie had become a star both in theatre and films.· She went on to become a star of nightclubs, films and recordings.· Zoe Nesbitt was a top class rider who dreamed of becoming an equestrian star.· The rhythm Section became the stars.
· Then, Stich was a rising star, a young man of boundless potential.· She would have what every rising star needs: a cause.· One of the 21st century's rising stars is in Tucson today to play the piano.· If it is because of your stellar performance, perhaps the favoritism indicates that you are a rising star in the organization.· At 39, Brian Sabean is clearly the rising star in the organization.· He has been in politics, but there he was not a rising star, either.· Has not the dollar become the rising star of global currency markets in 1996 and early 1997?
· Second, shooting stars are not stars.· Sometimes, you could go out and see the headlights like shooting stars.· Most burn up harmlessly, as shooting stars.· Many see their first shooting star, and with that, drift off to never-never land.· We are all familiar with shooting stars.· I remember seeing shooting stars, and how bright they were.· She sees a shooting star and is heartened by whatever hope it might portend, but before long she is crying again.
· He was probably even now thanking his lucky stars for a narrow escape.· The Bruins this morning are thanking their lucky stars for goaltender Bill Ranford.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► something is written in the stars► have stars in your eyes► you’re a star!/what a star!PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► give somebody top/star billing► be born under a lucky/unlucky star► play/star/appear etc opposite somebody
1in the sky a large ball of burning gas in space that can be seen at night as a point of light in the sky: - I had bumped my head so hard that I began to see stars.
- Her head rocked, and for the first time in her life, she quite literally saw stars.
- In the third division, Hereford United were seeing stars at Gillingham after letting in 2 early goals.
- Normally, one is not able to see stars in the sky that are in almost the same direction as the sun.
- She did it anyway, deploying her chute so late that the jolt made her see stars.
- The darkness intensified down in the wood though I could see stars between the boughs.
- And up from the city of fumes and smoke rose a broiling cloud of steam, covering the stars.
- Awareness of the stars and their light pervades the Koran, which reflects the brightness of the heavenly bodies in many verses.
- Don't join the dots ... Of the stars, one alone can I contemplate without pain.
- His flailing tail swept down a third of the stars of heaven and cast them on the earth.
- In the early eve-ning, just as the stars were coming out, he would often pull out his quadrant and compass.
- In these, they roamed among the stars.
- Little cable cars climbing half way to the stars?
- One evening the stars came out and the whole sky shone as clear as polished jet.
- And that is what Aeneas's young son did under the guiding hand of Alecto.
- Eddie was his hero, his guiding light.
- Father Peter, its guiding light, was also its provider of funds and sustenance.
- That will be the guiding light of the next Labour government.
- To followers, he is more than just a guiding light - he is the Messiah.
- Under Mr Yarrow's guiding hand, the reputation of the school was untarnished, these five long years.
- Jungle Boy and City Girl reach for the stars but it can't last, can it?
- The Lord clearly despises the practice of reaching for the stars instead of turning to him.
- Thank your lucky stars the boy wasn't seriously hurt.
- He was probably even now thanking his lucky stars for a narrow escape.
- The Bruins this morning are thanking their lucky stars for goaltender Bill Ranford.
I lay on my back and looked up at the stars. The sky was filled with stars. The stars were shining. The stars were all out (=they were shining). The stars were twinkling overhead (=shining and quickly changing from bright to faint).under the stars (=outdoors at night) sitting around a campfire under the stars → falling star, morning star, shooting star2famous performer/player a famous and successful actor, musician, or sports player: By the age of 20, she was already a big star (=a very famous and successful performer).a pop/movie/TV/football etc star He is a rising star (=someone who is becoming famous and successful) in the music world. She’s a good actress but she lacks star quality (=a special quality that could make someone a star).► see thesaurus at actor3main person in a film/play etc the person who has the main part, or one of them, in a film, play, show etcstar of Ray Grimes, the star of the television series ‘Brother John’4best/most successful person a)the person who gives the best performance in a film, play, show etc: Laporte, as Ebenezer Scrooge, is undoubtedly the star of the show. Shamu, the killer whale, is the show’s star attraction (=best and most popular person or thing). b)the best or most successful person in a group of players, workers, students etcstar player/performer/salesman etc the team’s star player the school’s star pupil the star columnist of ‘The Sunday Times’5shape a)a shape with four or more points, which represents the way a star looks in the sky b)a mark in the shape of a star, used to draw attention to something written SYN asterisk: I put a star next to the items that we still need to buy. c)a piece of cloth or metal in the shape of a star, worn to show someone’s rank or position – used especially on military uniforms: a four-star general6hotels/restaurants a mark used in a system for judging the quality of hotels and restaurantsthree-star/four-star/five-star etc a two-star hotel7the stars British English informal a description, usually printed in newspapers and magazines, of what will happen to you in the future, based on the position of the stars and planets at the time of your birth SYN horoscopesomebody’s stars I never read my stars. → star sign8something is written in the stars used to say that what happens to a person is controlled by fate (=a power that is believed to influence what happens in people’s lives): Their marriage was surely written in the stars.9see stars to see flashes of light, especially because you have been hit on the head: I felt a little dizzy and could see stars.10have stars in your eyes to imagine that something you want to do is much more exciting or attractive than it really is → starry-eyed11you’re a star!/what a star! British English spoken said when you are very grateful or pleased because of what someone has done: Thanks, Mel. You’re a real star! → guiding star at guiding(2), → born under a lucky/unlucky star at born1(7), → reach for the stars at reach1(12), → thank your lucky stars at thank(3)COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 1verbsa star shines· I looked up and saw hundreds of stars shining in the sky.a star twinkles (=shines with an unsteady light)· Stars began to twinkle in the darkening night sky.stars appear/come out (=appear in the sky)· We arrived home just as the stars were coming out.the stars are out (=they are shining)· There was a full moon, and the stars were out.look up at the stars· I had spent a lot of time looking up at the stars as a kid.sleep under the stars (=in a place with no roof)· In the desert, they slept out under the stars.adjectivesbright· the brightest star in the night skyfaint· The star is faint but visible.a distant star (=very far away)· He stared up towards the distant stars.phrasesa cluster of stars (=a small group of stars close together in the sky)· He fixed his telescope on a tiny little cluster of stars in the constellation of Taurus.COLLOCATIONS– Meaning 2ADJECTIVES/NOUN + stara big star (=a very famous and successful star)· He has worked with some of the world’s biggest stars.a movie/Hollywood star (also a film star especially British English)· He looked like a movie star.a pop/rock star· Who’s your favourite pop star?a TV star· Most TV stars do quite a lot of charity work.a soap star (=a star in a television soap opera)· She was known as a soap star before she took up singing.a sports/football/basketball etc star· Sam was a football star in college.an international star (=a star who is famous in many countries)· His performance in 'The Titanic' made him an international star.a rising star (=someone who is becoming famous and successful)· She is very much the rising star of Black American fiction.a child star (=a child who is a famous performer)· The production team say they have been careful to look after all their child stars.star + NOUNstar quality (=a special quality that could make someone a star)· She radiates genuine star quality.star treatment (=special treatment that a star gets)· Winners get star treatment from the media.a star vehicle (=a film or television programme that is intended to show the abilities of one particular star)· He denied that the movie was just a star vehicle for Tom Hanks.phrasesa star of stage and screen (=a star who has been in plays and films)· Now this much-loved star of stage and screen has been made a Dame.THESAURUS– Meaning 1in the skystar a large ball of burning gas in space, which can be seen at night as a point of light in the sky: · The dark night sky was clear and full of stars.planet one of the large objects that goes around the Sun, for example the Earth, Saturn, Mercury, or Mars: · The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781.sun the star that gives us light and heat, around which the planets move. There are also many millions of other suns in the universe: · The sun came out from behind a cloud.· a dying sunmoon the round object that moves around the Earth every 28 days, or a similar object that goes around another planet: · The moon rose in the night sky.· Titan is one of the moons of Saturn.asteroid a mass of rock that moves around the sun. Most asteroids are found between Jupiter and Mars: · the asteroid beltpulsar a type of star that is far away in space and produces radiation and radio wavesquasar an object like a star that is far away in space and shines extremely brightlysupernova a very large exploding starconstellation a group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name: · The constellation of Orion is one of the most easily recognizable patterns of stars in the night sky.galaxy one of the large groups of stars that make up the universe: · Astronomers have detected a galaxy 11 billion light years away.the universe all space, including all the stars and planets: · How many planets in the universe have life?THESAURUS– Meaning 2a famous personstar a famous and successful actor, musician, or sportsperson: · She dreamed of becoming a movie star.· a talent show to find the stars of the futurecelebrity someone who often appears in newspapers, on television etc and is well-known to the public. Celebrities are often famous for being famous, not because they have any great talent: · The magazine is full of gossip about celebrities.name a famous person whose name is known by many people – used especially in the following expressions: · All the big names in football were at the awards dinner.· Giorgio Armani is one of the most famous names in fashion.· He is yet to become a household name (=someone who everyone has heard of).personality an entertainer or sports player who is famous and often appears in the newspapers, on television etc – used especially in the following phrases: · Many advertisers use TV personalities to promote their products.· He was chosen as sports personality of the year.a very famous personsuperstar an extremely famous performer, especially a musician or film actor: · The film made Tom Cruise an international superstar.legend someone who is famous and admired for being extremely good at doing something – used especially about people who are at the end of a long career or who have died: · blues legend John Lee Hooker· Jane Fonda is the daughter of film legend Henry Fonda.great [usually plural] someone who was one of the best players or performers that there have ever been: · He was one of the all-time soccer greats.star1 nounstar2 verb
starstar2 ●●○ verb (past tense and past participle starred, present participle starring) VERB TABLE
star
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | star |
| he, she, it | stars | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | starred |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have starred |
| he, she, it | has starred | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had starred |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will star |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have starred |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am starring |
| he, she, it | is starring | |
| you, we, they | are starring | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was starring |
| you, we, they | were starring | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been starring |
| he, she, it | has been starring | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been starring |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be starring |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been starring |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Attenborough's 1987 "Cry Freedom" starred Denzel Washington.
- Danny Aiello stars in this comedy about New York's first big lottery winner.
- Director Jane Campion's latest film, which stars Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel, was one of the highlights of the New York Film Festival.
- Hollywood heart-throb Keanu Reeves is set to star in a true story based on a newspaper article from the Times.
- Silverman also starred in "Brighton Beach Memoirs."
- The film stars Patricia Arquette and is directed by Steven Brill.
- The most important points have been starred.
- Andy Vaughan starred for Wilmslow reaching an unbeaten 59 off only 42 deliveries.
- Doyle's explosive shot starred the side window.
- M.D. In sixty-four stage productions, so far - starring in twenty-six of them in London.
- Paul Winfield and Kevin Hooks also star.
Longman Language Activatorwhen a play, film etc has a particular actor in it
if an actor stars in a play or film, he or she is one of the most important actors in it; if a play or film stars an actor, he or she plays one of the most important characters in it: · The film stars Patricia Arquette and is directed by Steven Brill.· Director Jane Campion's latest film, which stars Kate Winslet and Harvey Keitel, was one of the highlights of the New York Film Festival.star in: · Danny Aiello stars in this comedy about New York's first big lottery winner. · Hollywood heart-throb Keanu Reeves is set to star in a true story based on a newspaper article from the Times.
if two or more actors co-star in a play or film, they are equally important actors in it; if a play or film co-stars two or more people, they play the most important characters in it : · The movie co-stars Sarah Jessica Parker, Elle Macpherson and Ben Stiller.co-star in: · Annette Bening co-starred in movies such as 'Valmont', 'Postcards from the Edge' and 'Regarding Henry'.
to act the most important part in a play or film: · Calloway played the lead in the New Federal Theater's production of 'The Louis Armstrong Story'.· He got an unexpected chance to play the lead after the film's original star fell ill.
to act in a film or play, especially as one of the most important actors: · More than 60 youngsters will perform in the play at Old Town Theater in Los Gatos.· Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh appeared together in 'Gone with the Wind'.
if a play or film features an actor, they are in it: · The play features two young actresses.· The original 'Star Trek' series, featuring William Shatner as Capt. Kirk and Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock, lasted three years.
used when saying who is in a play, film etc: · Have you seen 'The Sixth Sense' with Bruce Willis?· Dawson is now producing a stage version of the story with a cast of young actors from New York.
if someone is in a play or film as a particular character, they act the part of that character: · Clint Eastwood was excellent as the strong, silent hero in his many westerns.· Paul McGann will star as a middle-class Jewish lawyer in a new BBC drama called 'Fish'.
WORD SETSagent, nounbill, nounblack comedy, nouncasting, nouncomedy, nouncommentator, nouncostume drama, noundialogue, noundirect, verbdirector, noundocudrama, noundocumentary, noundocumentary, adjectivedramatize, verbdub, verbedit, verbeditor, nounedutainment, nounfilm, verbFX, grip, nounlead, nounmegastar, nounmerchandising, nounmix, verbmixer, nounmultimedia, adjectivenarration, nounorgan, nounpan, verbpanel, nounpanellist, nounpap, nounpersonality, nounpublicity, nounraconteur, nounrecast, verbrehearsal, nounrehearse, verbreissue, verbreprise, nounrerun, verbscript, nounshow business, nounsketch, nounsound, nounsound effects, nounspecial effect, nounstar, verbstarlet, nounstory, nounsubplot, nounsuperstar, nounthriller, nounweepy, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY ‘The Freshman’ was Brando’s first starring role (=the most important part in a film) in ten years.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES Early explorers used to navigate by the stars. a star pupil (=a very good one) Francesca was a rising star in the cinema. star-crossed lovers (=people who love each other but cannot be together) MGM made the film as a star vehicle for Brando.
‘The Freshman’ was Brando’s first starring role (=the most important part in a film) in ten years. (=someone or something that many people want to see)· The former president was the star attraction of the conference.
(=a lot of very famous actors)· The movie features an all-star cast.
(=a very famous comedy actor or actress)· The main role in the film is played by comedy star Whoopi Goldberg.
· They saw telescope images of the distant planet Neptune.
(=be one of the main characters in a film)· Robert Mitchum starred in a film called 'River of No Return' with Marilyn Monroe.
· The film starred Brad Pitt.
· John Voight, the American film star, is perhaps best known for his Oscar winning performance in 'Midnight Cowboy'.
(=a hotel that has been given a particular rating)· On our honeymoon, we stayed in a four-star hotel in Paris.
(=play one of the main characters)· Depp will star in director Tim Burton’s next movie.
· a movie starring Will Smith
· She looked like a movie star.
Early explorers used to navigate by the stars. (=the potential to be a star in music, films etc)· The woman who spotted Kate’s star potential was Sarah Doukas.
a star pupil (=a very good one) (=a number of star symbols that shows a level of quality etc)· Each restaurant is given a star rating.
Francesca was a rising star in the cinema. (=one of the most important roles)· She was offered the starring role in a new British stage comedy.
· Very quickly, Williams became the star of the show.
star-crossed lovers (=people who love each other but cannot be together) MGM made the film as a star vehicle for Brando. (=an important witness who says things that help one side a lot)· The judge ruled that the state’s star witness had lied on the stand.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· Besides producing, Moore also stars in one of the segments.· Jackie Cooper also starred as her perplexed boyfriend.· Shelley Winters also stars in this underrated thriller, tautly directed by Robert Wise.
· Meryl Streep and Jack Nicholson star as two journalists who fall in love with the help of spaghetti carbonara.· Andy Garcia stars as Jimmy the Saint, so called because he studied for the cloth before becoming a hood.
· Bosses have yet to decide which show the family will star in, but Coronation Street and Emmerdale are favourites.· But the 25-year-old flyer made the most of his come-back chance when he starred in last weekend's win at Derby.
NOUN· Man: Richard Burton apart, you starred with many leading actors - who has impressed you the most?
· Both later adapted it into a film, starring Tom Courtenay and Julie Christie, and a television series.· He was partners in a company that made, and still distributes, corporate training films written and starring John Cleese.· His story was told in Costa-Gavras's 1982 film Missing, which starred Jack Lemmon.· There was an obliging clip from the awful-looking film Extreme Measures starring guest Hugh Grant.· The film, starring Albert Finney, contains one of the most deliciously bawdy food seductions ever.· But the colliery band played on-providing the story behind the critically acclaimed film Brassed Off starring Ewan MacGregor.· The lake alone, focus of a new film starring Ted Danson, has a singular mystique.
· It will be replaced by adventure movies starring Hollywood idols including Tom Cruise.· The truth is, no other cemetery on the face of the earth has as many dead movie stars as Hollywood Memorial.· In the movie Mark Wahlberg stars as Leo.· Set in 1936, the movie stars Mikhalkov himself as a revered Bolshevik and Ingeborga Dapkounaite as his wife.· Though movie stars and corporate moguls have run up prices in beach-front resorts recently, expect prices overall to stabilize.· Name the movie series that starred Leslie Nielsen as Detective Drebin. 5.· The 10-day festival is turning into a virtual showcase for movie stars making their debuts as filmmakers.
· Is there any other less well known, former Leeds players, starring for other clubs nowadays out there?
· Interesting rock stars, uninspiring rock musicians.
· Shrimp takes a starring role on the menu at just about every restaurant in town.· Carl Lumbly stars in the title role.· In the rematch, the Packers may learn that Kevin Williams is more than willing to play a starring role.· But the jitters and anxieties usually associated with a starring role in a new play are nowhere to be seen.· I suggested to Miller how he could play a starring role.
· Although the 200 is her favorite, the 100 could lead to the birth of a new U. S. star.
· They claimed the first Tardis, as used in the 1963 series starring William Hartnell, collapsed 16 years ago.· Name the movie series that starred Leslie Nielsen as Detective Drebin. 5.· The tales of the vessel's outrageous life on the coastal trade became a highly-successful series starring Roddy McMillan and John Grieve.
· Bosses have yet to decide which show the family will star in, but Coronation Street and Emmerdale are favourites.· The show stars hunky Kevin Sorbo as the son of Zeus.
VERB· Some, such as the CellNet, look like rising stars.
PHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► give somebody top/star billing► be born under a lucky/unlucky star► play/star/appear etc opposite somebody
1[intransitive] if someone stars in a film, television show etc, they are one of the main characters in itstar in- And that is what Aeneas's young son did under the guiding hand of Alecto.
- Eddie was his hero, his guiding light.
- Father Peter, its guiding light, was also its provider of funds and sustenance.
- That will be the guiding light of the next Labour government.
- To followers, he is more than just a guiding light - he is the Messiah.
- Under Mr Yarrow's guiding hand, the reputation of the school was untarnished, these five long years.
- Jungle Boy and City Girl reach for the stars but it can't last, can it?
- The Lord clearly despises the practice of reaching for the stars instead of turning to him.
- Thank your lucky stars the boy wasn't seriously hurt.
- He was probably even now thanking his lucky stars for a narrow escape.
- The Bruins this morning are thanking their lucky stars for goaltender Bill Ranford.
Eastwood starred in ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’.star with/opposite DeVito stars opposite Dreyfuss in the movie.star as Hugh Grant stars as the romantic hero. ‘The Freshman’ was Brando’s first starring role (=the most important part in a film) in ten years.2[transitive] if a film, television show, or play stars someone, that person is one of the main characters in it SYN feature: a film starring Meryl Streepstar somebody as ... The movie starred Orson Welles as Harry Lime.3[transitive] to put an asterisk (=a star-shaped mark) next to something written: The starred items are available.GRAMMAR Star is usually passive in this meaning.