cynosure

(sī'nə-shʊr', sĭn'ə-)
n.

1. An object that serves as a focal point of attention and admiration.
2. Something that serves to guide.

[French, Ursa Minor (which contains the guiding star Polaris), from Latin cynosūra, from Greek kunosoura, dog's tail, Ursa Minor : kunos, genitive of kuōn, dog + ourā, tail.]

cynosural cy'no·sur'al adj.

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meaning 'a centre of attraction or admiration', is pronounced sin-ǝ-syooǝ or siyn-ǝ-syooǝ. Its earlier meaning 'guid-ing star' related to its use as the name of a constellation, and the current meaning is immortalized by Milton's phrase The Cynosure of neighbouring Eyes in 'L'Allegro' (1632).

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center of attention

IN BRIEF: The center of attention.

The wonderful singer became the cynosure of all of the people on the plaza.

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For a list of words related to cynosure, see:

• Celestial Bodies - cynosure: Polaris; northern constellation Ursa Minor

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See words rhyming with "cynosure."

  See crossword solutions for the clue Cynosure.

Dansk (Danish)
n. - ledestjerne

Nederlands (Dutch)
middelpunt van belangstelling, Poolster

Français (French)
n. - point de mire, centre d'attraction

Deutsch (German)
n. - Leitstern, Hauptattraktion, Kleiner Bär, Polarstern

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - (αστρον.) η Κυνόσουρα, ο αστερισμός της Μικράς 'Αρκτου, (καθομ.) επίκεντρο ενδιαφέροντος

Italiano (Italian)
Orsa Minore, persona al centro dell'interesse

Português (Portuguese)
n. - centro (m) de atenção, estrela (f) polar (Astron.)

Русский (Russian)
центр внимания

Español (Spanish)
n. - blanco de las miradas, centro de atracción, Osa Mayor

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - Lilla björnen (astron.), polstjärnan, ledstjärna, centrum för intresse

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
小熊座, 指针, 北极星, 目标

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 小熊座, 指標, 北極星, 目標

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 찬미의 대상, 지침, 소웅좌

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - 注目の的, 道しるべとなるもの, 指針

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) قبله الأنظار‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮מוקד-ההתעניינות‬

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