name · noun · 6 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
Received-Pronunciation:/ˈsɪnəzjʊə/
Received-Pronunciation:/-sjʊə/
Received-Pronunciation:/-ʃʊə/
UK:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
General-American:/ˈsaɪnəʃʊɹ/
General-American:/ˈsɪn-/
General-American:/-ʃɚ/
US:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:S AY1 N AO0 S ER2
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
name
Meaning 1
Ursa Minor or Polaris, the North Star, used as a guide by navigators.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
Alternative letter-case form of Cynosure: Ursa Minor or Polaris, the North Star, used as a guide by navigators.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
That which serves to guide or direct; a guiding star.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
Examples
let faith be your cynosure to walk by
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
noun
Meaning 4
Something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: figuratively
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
5
noun
Meaning 5
something that strongly attracts attention and admiration
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
if he was the cynosure of all eyes he didn't notice
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: center, centre, center of attention, centre of attention
6
noun
Meaning 6
something that provides guidance (as Polaris guides mariners)
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
let faith be your cynosure to walk by
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: guidance, counsel, counseling, counselling, direction
History
Etymology
From Middle French Cynosure (“Ursa Minor; Polaris”), from Latin Cynosūra (“Ursa Minor”), from Ancient Greek Κυνόσουρα (Kunósoura, “Ursa Minor”, literally “dog’s tail”), from κυνός (kunós, “dog's”) + οὐρά (ourá, “tail”).
Across languages
Translations
25 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Finnish:
johtotähti
— that which serves to guide or direct
French:
tramontane
— that which serves to guide or direct
French:
guide
— that which serves to guide or direct
French:
mentor
— that which serves to guide or direct
French:
chien d'aveugle
— that which serves to guide or direct
French:
parangon
— that which serves to guide or direct
German:
Leitstern
— that which serves to guide or direct
Italian:
tramontana
— that which serves to guide or direct
Italian:
guida
— that which serves to guide or direct
Russian:
путево́дная звезда́
(putevódnaja zvezdá)
— that which serves to guide or direct
Spanish:
tramontana
— that which serves to guide or direct
Spanish:
guia
— that which serves to guide or direct
Spanish:
lazarillo
— that which serves to guide or direct
Finnish:
huomion keskipiste
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
French:
point de mire
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
French:
cible
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
French:
foyer
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
German:
Anziehungspunkt
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
German:
Blickfang
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
German:
Fokus
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
Romanian:
țintă
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
Russian:
центр внима́ния
(centr vnimánija)
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
Russian:
средото́чие внима́ния
(sredotóčije vnimánija)
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
Spanish:
blanco de las miradas
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
Spanish:
foco
— something that is the center of attention; an object that serves as a focal point of attraction and admiration
