How Do You Spell LESSER BEAR?

Pronunciation: [lˈɛsə bˈe͡ə] (IPA)

Lesser Bear is a common name for the constellation Ursa Minor. The spelling of this phrase can be explained using the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) transcription. "Lesser" is pronounced as /ˈlɛsər/, with the stress on the first syllable. "Bear" is pronounced as /bɛr/, with a short e sound and a silent r at the end. Together, they create the phrase /ˈlɛsər bɛr/, which is used to refer to the smaller and fainter constellation that includes the North Star.

LESSER BEAR Meaning and Definition

1. The Lesser Bear, also known as Ursa Minor, is a constellation visible in the northern celestial hemisphere. It is referred to as the "Lesser Bear" due to its close proximity and resemblance to its larger counterpart, the Great Bear, or Ursa Major.

   The Lesser Bear constellation is made up of seven main stars, forming a recognized asterism commonly referred to as the Little Dipper, due to its resemblance to a ladle or dipper. The most notable star within Ursa Minor is Polaris, also known as the North Star. It holds immense significance to astronomers and navigators as it appears nearly motionless while the other stars seem to rotate around it. This has made Polaris a vital celestial reference point throughout history for finding direction and determining latitude.

   Additionally, the Lesser Bear has been a prominent figure in ancient mythology and folklore, appearing in various cultural narratives. In Greek mythology, it represents Arcas, the son of Callisto, who was transformed into a bear and placed in the sky by Zeus. In other traditions, it symbolizes different mystical creatures or deities.

   The Lesser Bear, with its easily recognizable Little Dipper shape and Polaris as a striking focal point, has been an essential part of human history and discovery. As a navigational and cultural reference, it continues to captivate and guide both astronomers and individuals looking up at the night sky.

Common Misspellings for LESSER BEAR

• kesser bear
• pesser bear
• oesser bear
• lwsser bear
• lssser bear
• ldsser bear
• lrsser bear
• l4sser bear
• l3sser bear
• leaser bear
• lezser bear
• lexser bear
• ledser bear
• leeser bear
• lewser bear
• lesaer bear
• leszer bear
• lesxer bear
• lesder bear
• leseer bear

Etymology of LESSER BEAR

The word "Lesser Bear" refers to the constellation Ursa Minor, which represents a small bear. The etymology of this phrase can be traced back to ancient Greek and Latin. In Greek mythology, the constellation Ursa Minor was associated with the myth of Callisto, a nymph who was transformed into a bear by the goddess Artemis. In Greek, the word "arctos" means bear, and the word "mikros" means small or lesser. Combining these words, we get "Arktos Mikros", which eventually evolved into the Latin name "Ursa Minor", meaning "Lesser Bear". This name was later adopted into English and is still used today.

Plural form of LESSER BEAR is LESSER BEARS