noun
stardust
STAH-duhst
Stardust (noun) means Tiny particles of matter found in space, formed from material ejected by stars. Example: “Scientists found traces of ancient stardust in the meteorite.”
noun
1
Tiny particles of matter found in space, formed from material ejected by stars.
"Scientists found traces of ancient stardust in the meteorite."
2
A sense of magic, glamour, or charisma, especially around a celebrity or romantic moment.
"Why would experienced deal makers want rock stars and actors to advise them? Why would entrepreneurs seek their money? There is a certain cachet with all that stardust, of course, and perhaps some free publicity."
— Steven Davidoff Solomon, Sprinkling a Little Celebrity Stardust on Silicon Valley (2015)
"There was a touch of stardust to the whole evening."
How to use stardust
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither literal dust from space, or a figurative sense of glamour and magic.
Common pairings
a touch of stardust
sprinkle of stardust
cosmic stardust
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Word forms
- Plural
- stardusts
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Scientists found traces of ancient _____ in the meteorite.
Etymology
A compound of "star" + "dust," first used literally for cosmic particles and later borrowed figuratively for a magical, dazzling quality.
Frequently asked questions
What does “stardust” mean?
The word “stardust” means tiny particles of matter found in space, formed from material ejected by stars. In plain terms, either literal dust from space, or a figurative sense of glamour and magic.
How do you pronounce “stardust”?
“Stardust” is pronounced STAH-duhst (/ˈstɑɹˌdʌst/ in IPA).
How do you use “stardust” in a sentence?
Here is “stardust” used in a sentence: “Scientists found traces of ancient stardust in the meteorite.”
What part of speech is “stardust”?
“Stardust” is a noun.
How many meanings does “stardust” have?
“Stardust” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: tiny particles of matter found in space, formed from material ejected by stars.
