astronomical

astronomical
astronomical 1550s, adj. from ASTRONOMY (Cf. astronomy) + -ICAL (Cf. -ical). Popular meaning "immense, concerning very large figures" (as sizes and distances in astronomy) is attested from 1899. Astronomical unit (abbrev. A.U.) "mean distance from Earth to Sun," used as a unit of measure of distance in space, is from 1909. Related: Astronomically.

Etymology dictionary. 2014.

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  • Astronomical — As tro*nom ic*al ( [i^]*kal), a. [L. astronomicus, Gr. astronomiko s: cf. F. astronomique.] Of or pertaining to astronomy; in accordance with the methods or principles of astronomy. {As tro*nom ic*al*ly}, adv. [1913 Webster] {Astronomical clock} …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • astronomical — ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to astronomy. 2) informal extremely large: astronomical fees. DERIVATIVES astronomic adjective astronomically adverb …   English terms dictionary

  • astronomical — index prodigious (enormous) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • astronomical — [adj] huge astronomic*, colossal, considerable, enormous, epic, gigantic, ginormous*, humongous*, jumbo, mammoth, massive, mega*, monster*, monumental, prodigious, sizeable, tremendous, vast, very big, very large, whopping*; concept 771 Ant.… …   New thesaurus

  • astronomical — [as΄trə näm′i kəl] adj. 1. of or having to do with astronomy 2. extremely large, as the numbers or quantities used in astronomy: Also astronomic astronomically adv …   English World dictionary

  • astronomical — [[t]æ̱strənɒ̱mɪk(ə)l[/t]] 1) ADJ (emphasis) If you describe an amount, especially the cost of something as astronomical, you are emphasizing that it is very large indeed. Houses in the village are going for astronomical prices... The cost will be …   English dictionary

  • astronomical — also astronomic adjective Date: 1556 1. of or relating to astronomy < astronomical observations > 2. enormously or inconceivably large or great < astronomical numbers > • astronomically adverb …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • astronomical — adjective /ˌæs.trəˈnɒm.ɪk.əl,ˌæstrəˈnɑːmɪkəl/ a) Of or relating to astronomy. Finally, all men saw that astronomical knowledge lied not, and they awaited the comet. b) Very large; of vast measure. At the moment he wondered why anyone would want… …   Wiktionary

  • astronomical — [ˌæstrəˈnɒmɪk(ə)l] adj 1) informal an astronomical amount is extremely large astronomical prices[/ex] 2) relating to the scientific study of the stars and planets …   Dictionary for writing and speaking English

  • astronomical — mod. extremely expensive; of any very high figure. □ The prices here are astronomical! □ The market indexes have all reached astronomical heights for the second time …   Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions

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