Pleiades

plural noun

Ple·​ia·​des ˈplē-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce Pleiades (audio)
ˈplā-,
chiefly British
ˈplī- How to pronounce Pleiades (audio)
1
: the seven daughters of Atlas turned into a group of stars in Greek mythology
2
: a conspicuous cluster of stars in the constellation Taurus that includes six stars in the form of a very small dipper

Examples of Pleiades in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Below are two timetables giving local circumstances for the disappearance and reappearance of the four brightest members of the Pleiades that will be occulted. Joe Rao, Space.com, 19 July 2025 In contrast, light from the Pleiades takes 445 years — that’s the late 16th century before telescopes were invented. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025 The Pleiades are in the constellation of Taurus, some 445 light years away from Earth, and are considered winter stars. Rosie McCall, Discover Magazine, 14 July 2025 One rhyming couplet instructs a young man to get an adze, or ax, when the Pleiades are overhead. Kevin West, Travel + Leisure, 14 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for Pleiades

Word History

Etymology

Latin, from Greek

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pleiades was in the 14th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pleiades.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pleiades. Accessed 30 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

Pleiades

plural noun
Ple·​ia·​des ˈplē-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce Pleiades (audio)
: a loose cluster of stars in Taurus that is easily seen by a person with average sight

More from Merriam-Webster on Pleiades

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!