Ursa Minor

[ur-suh mahy-ner] /ˈɜr sə ˈmaɪ nər/
noun, genitive Ursae Minoris
[ur-see mi-nawr-is, -nohr-] /ˈɜr si mɪˈnɔr ɪs, -ˈnoʊr-/ (Show IPA). Astronomy
1.
the Little or Lesser Bear, the northernmost constellation, containing the stars that form the Little Dipper, the outermost of which, at the end of the handle, is Polaris.
Origin
1590-1600
British Dictionary definitions for Ursa Minor

Ursa Minor

/ˈɜːsə ˈmaɪnə/
noun (Latin genitive) Ursae Minoris (ˈɜːsiː mɪˈnɔːrɪs)
1.
a small faint constellation, the brightest star of which is the Pole Star, lying 1° from the true celestial pole Also called the Little Bear, the Bear, (US and Canadian) the Little Dipper
Word Origin
Latin: lesser bear
Ursa Minor in Science
Ursa Minor  
A ladle-shaped constellation very near the north celestial pole. Ursa Minor (the Lesser Bear) contains the seven stars that form the Little Dipper. Polaris, the North Star, is at the end of the dipper's handle.
Ursa Minor in Culture

Ursa Minor definition


The Little Bear or Little Dipper; the constellation that contains the North Star (Polaris).