Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Zodiac for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is "Zodiac" — noun, pronounced /ˈzəʊdiæk/, with the stress on "zo".
Narrator: The zodiac is an imaginary band of the sky divided into twelve signs, used in astrology.
Narrator: In plain English, it is the set of star signs.
Narrator: It comes from Greek zōidiakos, circle of little animals.
Narrator: A common collocation is "sign of the zodiac", which describes signs like Leo or Pisces.
Narrator: It differs from "astronomy", because astronomy is science, while the zodiac belongs to astrology.
Narrator: In a second sense, the Chinese zodiac has twelve animal years.
Narrator: Astrology, culture, history and design use the word.
Narrator: So remember: the zodiac is twelve signs in a circle.
Speaker A: What's your sign?
Speaker B: Leo, in the ZODIAC! From Greek for circle of little animals.
Speaker A: Do you believe it?
Speaker B: Just for fun.
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: "There are twelve signs of the zodiac", astrology. "2024 was the Year of the Dragon in the Chinese zodiac", culture. "Zodiac jewellery", fashion.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: Star signs are not scientific predictions.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: Horoscope is its cousin, star sign its twin, and constellation an alternative — yet zodiac keeps its starry charm!
Speaker B: Let's use "zodiac" in AI prompts — useful for fun apps and cultural content.
Speaker A: How for apps?
Speaker B: Birthdays.
Prompt: Write a function that returns the zodiac sign for a date of birth.
Speaker A: And culture?
Speaker B: Chinese New Year.
Prompt: Explain the Chinese zodiac animals for a school assembly.
Speaker A: Could it help design?
Speaker B: Yes, for icons.
Prompt: Describe a minimal icon set for the twelve zodiac signs.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: Science.
Prompt: Explain the difference between astrology and astronomy in plain English.
Zodiac — meaning in Arabic & definition More Z courses GL Dictionary