Menkar

noun

Men·​kar ˈmen-ˌkär 

ˈmeŋ-

astronomy

: a red giant star of the second magnitude that is seen in the constellation Cetus

Look toward the east before the first light of dawn and, midway up in the sky, you'll see stars of the wintertime sky. Aldebaran is the brightest of these—almost due east—and glowing with a reddish-orange hue. Off to its right is another bright star, though not as bright as Aldebaran, called Menkar.

—Dennis Mammana, Newsday, 26 July 2008

called also Alpha Ceti

Word History

First Known Use

1888, in the meaning defined above

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