From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishconstellationcon‧stel‧la‧tion /ˌkɒnstəˈleɪʃən $ ˌkɑːn-/ noun [countable] 1 HAa group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name a star in the constellation of Orion2 → a constellation of something
Examples from the Corpus
constellation• No, what I am looking at are the first direct signals to reach me from the dark constellation of Serafin.• In a moment I saw that they formed the outlines of the familiar constellations.• Individual constellations of these requirements are infinitely varied, of course.• His chest and cheek the most repulsive sight, a negative constellation of buckshot bruises.• Much the most celebrated object in the constellation is Omicron Ceti or Mira, the prototype long-period variable.• This hulking Atlas is carrying the universe upon his shoulders, a hollow orb ringed with the constellations of the celestial sphere.• In principle these constellations are knowable, and criminal behaviour fully predictable.Origin constellation (1300-1400) Old French Late Latin constellatio, from Latin com- ( → COM-) + stella “star” 