zodiac, n.

zodiac
http://www.oed.com/dictionary/zodiac_n%3Ftab%3Dmeaning_and_use
First published 1921; not fully revised

# zodiacnoun

## Earlier version

- zodiac, n. (a.) in OED Second Edition (1989)

## In other dictionaries

- zōdiak, n. in Middle English Dictionary

## Factsheet

### What does the noun zodiac mean?

There are eight meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zodiac, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

zodiac has developed meanings and uses in subjects including

astrology (Middle English) astronomy (Middle English) sailing (1950s)

#### Entry status

OED is undergoing a continuous programme of revision to modernize and improve definitions. This entry has not yet been fully revised.

### How common is the noun zodiac?

About 0.7occurrences per million words in modern written English

1750 | 0.92
1760 | 0.88
1770 | 1.1
1780 | 1.1
1790 | 1.2
1800 | 1.4
1810 | 1.5
1820 | 1.3
1830 | 1.2
1840 | 1.1
1850 | 0.95
1860 | 0.82
1870 | 0.75
1880 | 0.67
1890 | 0.62
1900 | 0.55
1910 | 0.51
1920 | 0.5
1930 | 0.52
1940 | 0.53
1950 | 0.55
1960 | 0.57
1970 | 0.6
1980 | 0.63
1990 | 0.68
2000 | 0.7
2010 | 0.74

### How is the noun zodiac pronounced?

#### British English

/ˈzəʊdiak/
ZOH-dee-ak

#### U.S. English

/ˈzoʊdiˌæk/
ZOH-dee-ak

### Where does the noun zodiac come from?

Earliest known use

Middle English

The earliest known use of the noun zodiac is in the Middle English period (1150—1500).

OED's earliest evidence for zodiac is from 1390, in the writing of John Gower, poet.

zodiac is a borrowing from French.

Etymons: French zodiaque.

### Nearby entries

1. zoanthropic, adj. 1891–
2. zoanthropy, n. 1856–
3. zoanthus, n. 1841–
4. zoarial, adj. 1896–
5. zoarium, n. 1880–
6. zob, n. 1911–
7. zocalo, n. 1884–
8. zocco, n. 1664–1723
9. zocle, n. 1704–
10. zoco, n. 1892–
11. zodiac, n.1390–
12. zodiacal, adj. 1576–
13. zodiac line, n. 1590
14. zodiac ring, n. 1895–
15. zodiographer, n. 1650
16. zoea, n. 1828–
17. zoeal, adj.?1870–
18. zoetrope, n. 1866–
19. zographer, n. 1570
20. zography, n. 1570
21. zograscope, n. 1753–

## Etymology

### Summary

A borrowing from French.
Etymon: French zodiaque.
< Old French (modern French) zodiaque (= Provençal zodiac, Italian zodiaco, Spanish zodiaco, Portuguese zodiaco), < Latin zōdiacus (Cicero), < late Greek ζῳδιακός, sc. κύκλος the circle of the figures or…
< Old French (modern French) zodiaque (= Provençal zodiac, Italian zodiaco, Spanish zodiaco, Portuguese zodiaco), < Latin zōdiacus (Cicero), < late Greek ζῳδιακός, sc. κύκλος the circle of the figures or signs (compare Latin orbis signifer, Cicero, circulus signifer, Vitruvius = ὁ ζωοϕόρος κύκλος, Aristotle), < ζῴδιον sculptured figure (of an animal), sign of the zodiac (ὁ τῶν ζῳδίων κύκλος), diminutive of ζῷον animal.

## Meaning & use

1. 1. 1.a.
      1390–
      Astronomy. A belt of the celestial sphere extending about 8 or 9 degrees on each side of the ecliptic, within which the apparent motions of the sun, moon, and principal planets take place; it is divided into twelve equal parts called signs (see 1b).
      1. 1390

         > Ther ben signes tuelve, Whiche have her cercles be hemselve Compassed in the zodiaque.

         J. Gower, Confessio Amantis vol. III. 108
      2. c1400 (1391)

         > To knowe in owre orizonte with wych degree of the zodiac that the Mone arisith in any latitude.

         G. Chaucer, Treatise on Astrolabe (Cambridge MS. Dd.3.53) (1872) Prologue 3
         [Composed 1391]
      3. 1426

         > She held also a gret ballaunce, Only off purpos (yiff she konne,) To peyse the sodyak and the sonne.

         J. Lydgate, translation of G. de Guileville, Pilgrimage of Life of Man 17200
      4. c1540 (?a1400)

         > The sun vnder zodias settis hym to leng Two dayes betwene.

         Destruction of Troy 3726
         [Composed ?a1400]
      5. c1550

         > Ane vthir grit circle in the spere callit the zodiac the quhilk deuidis the circle equinoctial in tua partis.

         Complaynt of Scotland (1979) vi. 39
      6. 1594

         > When the golden sunne..Gallops the Zodiacke in his glistering Coach.

         W. Shakespeare, Titus Andronicus ii. i. 7
      7. 1611

         > They have empayld within a Zodiake The free-borne Sunne, and keepe twelue signes awake To watch his steps.

         J. Donne, Anat. World sig. B2
      8. 1727

         > Thus Phœbus thro' the Zodiac takes his way.

         W. Broome, Poems 195
      9. 1868

         > One of the points in which the zodiac cuts the equator.

         J. N. Lockyer, Elementary Lessons in Astronomy §364
      astrology astronomy
      1. zodiac 1390–
         Astronomy. A belt of the celestial sphere extending about 8 or 9 degrees on each side of the ecliptic, within which the apparent motions of the…
      2. signifer a1413–1867
         = zodiac, n. 1a. Also personified. Obsolete (rare after 17th cent.).
      3. zodiac circle 1447–
      4. zodiac line 1590
         The zodiac.
      5. baldric 1596–
         figurative. The zodiac, viewed as a gem-studded belt.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. 1.b.
      ?1533–
      signs of the zodiac (sign n. I.6): the twelve equal parts into which the zodiac is divided, and through one of which the sun passes in each month; they are named after the twelve constellations (Aries, Taurus, Gemini, Cancer, Leo, Virgo, Libra, Scorpio, Sagittarius, Capricornus, Aquarius, Pisces) with which at a former epoch they severally coincided approximately (see precession n.2 1).
      1. [1390

         > Hou that the Signes sitte arowe, Ech after other be degre In substance and in proprete The zodiaque comprehendeth Withinne his cercle, as it appendeth.

         J. Gower, Confessio Amantis vol. III. 117]
      2. ?1533

         > The xii. signes of the zodiacque.

         G. Du Wes, Introductorie for to lerne Frenche sig. Cci v
      3. 1585

         > The signe in the Zodiacke called Gemini.

         C. Fetherston, translation of J. Calvin, Comm. Actes Apostles (xxviii. 11) 586
      4. 1625

         > Wheresoeuer any man stands on the Surface of the Earth, six signes of the Zodiacke will shew themselues.

         N. Carpenter, Geography Delineated i. v. 101
      5. 1715

         > The images of the Stars have removed from the Signs of the Zodiac, to which they originally gave names.

         translation of D. Gregory, Elements of Astronomy vol. I. ii. §1. 203
      6. 1866

         > The sun is in the northern signs of the zodiac.

         R. M. Ferguson, Electricity 36
      astrology astronomy
      1. token Old English–1535
         A sign of the zodiac. Obsolete. rare.
      2. tokening Old English–
         A token, emblem, sign, mark; a portent; a signal; †a zodiacal sign (obsolete).
      3. sign a1393–
         Astronomy. Each of the twelve equal divisions of the Zodiac, named from the constellations formerly situated in each, and associated with…
      4. signs of the zodiac?1533–
         signs of the zodiac (sign, n. I.6): the twelve equal parts into which the zodiac is divided, and through one of which the sun passes in each…
      5. Mazzaroth 1560–
         a. With plural agreement. The twelve signs of the zodiac. b. With singular agreement. The star Sirius; (also) the constellation Canis Major (which…
      6. dog 1723–
         In Chinese and East Asian astrology: (the name of) the eleventh sign of the zodiac. In later use also: a person born under this sign.
      7. star sign 1894–
         Astrology. A sign of the zodiac, esp. the sign associated with a person's birth date, used in determining his or her horoscope. Cf. star, n.¹ I.3a.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   3. 1.c.
      1704–
      zodiac of the moon, zodiac of a planet, etc.: that belt of the heavens (usually a portion of the ordinary zodiac) within which the apparent motion of the moon, planet, etc. takes place.
      1. 1704

         > Zodiack of the Comets, Cassini hath observed a certain Tract..within whose Bounds..he hath found most Comets..to keep.

         J. Harris, Lexicon Technicum vol. I
      2. 1715

         > These Comets..do not go in the Zodiac or Way of the Planets.

         translation of D. Gregory, Elements of Astronomy vol. II. vi. §1. 821
      3. 1788

         > The Bedoween..was taught by experience to divide, in twenty-eight parts, the zodiac of the moon.

         E. Gibbon, Decline & Fall vol. V. l. 190
      4. 1834

         > According to Gaubil, the invention of the Chinese zodiac, divided into twenty-seven constellations, is to be referred to Yao.

         Natural Philosophy (Libr. Useful Knowl.) vol. III. Astron. i. 4
      5. 1888

         > The synodical revolution of the moon laid down the lines of the solar, its sidereal revolution those of the lunar zodiac.

         Encyclopædia Britannica vol. XXIV. 793/2
      astrology
      1. zodiac of the moon 1704–
         zodiac of the moon, zodiac of a planet, etc.: that belt of the heavens (usually a portion of the ordinary zodiac) within which the apparent motion…
      View in Historical Thesaurus
2. 2.
   c1400–
   A figure or representation of the zodiac.
   1. c1400 (1391)

      > Alle sterres sittinge wyth-in the zodiak of thin astrolabie ben cleped sterres of the north.

      G. Chaucer, Treatise on Astrolabe (Cambridge MS. Dd.3.53) (1872) i. §21. 12
      [Composed 1391]
   2. 1548

      > In the zodiak were the twelue figures, curiously made, and aboue this were made the seuen planettes.

      Hall's Vnion: Henry VIII f. clvijv
   3. 1605

      > A virgin Prince, who presented in his shield, the Zodiacke with the Characters onely of Leo and Virgo.

      W. Camden, Remaines i. 168
   4. 1688

      > Zodiack, is the imitation of a Bend, and is esteemed a girdle of Honor, or a note of favour.

      R. Holme, Academy of Armory ii. 42/2
   5. 1774

      > The Zodiac, which Sir Isaac Newton supposed to relate to the Argonautic expedition, was an assemblage of Egyptian hieroglyphics.

      J. Bryant, New System vol. II. 483
   6. 1820

      > The Egyptians connected astronomy with their religious ceremonies, as we found various zodiacs, not only among the temples, but in their tombs also.

      G. Belzoni, Narrative Egypt & Nubia ii. 278
   7. a1836

      > The motto of a crest which bears his own picture, encircled by a zodiac.

      D. McNicoll, Works (1837) 24
   astronomy
   1. zodiac c1400–
      A figure or representation of the zodiac.
   View in Historical Thesaurus
3. 1. 3.a.
      c1560–1619
      † transferred. A year; the calendar. Obsolete.
      1. c1560

         > Vpoun thair vyce war lang to waik, Quhais falsatt, fibilnes, and tressone, Hes rung thryis oure this zodiak.

         A. Scott, Poems (Scottish Text Society) v. 25
      2. a1616

         > So long, that ninteene Zodiacks haue gone round.

         W. Shakespeare, Measure for Measure (1623) i. ii. 156
      3. 1619

         > A month in the Zodiac.

         E. M. Bolton, translation of Florus, Roman Histories iv. ii. 434
      1. winter Old English–
         Chiefly in plural preceded by a numeral: a year. Frequently in expressions referring to a person’s age, or the passage of time. In early use simply…
      2. year Old English–
         The time taken for the earth to make one revolution round the sun, forming a natural unit of time of about 365¼ days; (with reference to the…
      3. twelvemonth c1275–
         A period of twelve months; a year.
      4. a time and times and half a time c1384–
         A specific period of time. A period of time mentioned in certain biblical passages, usually understood to be a year.
      5. foil 1481
         With allusion to the annual fall of the leaf: A year. Cf. French vin de deux, trois feuilles. Obsolete. rare.
      6. zodiac c1560–1619
         transferred. A year; the calendar. Obsolete.
      7. Anno Domini 1604–
         A particular year. rare.
      8. twelve moons 1609
         A twelvemonth, a year (obsolete).
      9. suns 1743–1842
         In plural. poetic. A long period of time; years. Obsolete.
      10. outfit 1791–
          Canadian. The name given to the fiscal year of the Hudson's Bay Company. Hence: a year.
      11. snow 1825–
          As marking a period of time; a winter.
      12. season 1827–
          In reckoning time or age: A year, twelve-month. (Cf. summer, n.¹ A.4.)
      13. earth-year 1870–
          A year as measured on the earth (= year, n. I.1a); contrasted with year, n. I.2d.
      14. yr 1880–
          Year.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
   2. 3.b.
      1560–
      figurative and allusively. (a) Recurrent series, round, course. (b) Compass, range. (c) Set of twelve.
      This figurative use was inaugurated by Marcellus Palingenius in the title of his work Zodiacus vitæ, hoc est de hominis vita (c1530), each book of which was named after a sign of the zodiac. The title was imitated by Gaspar Barthius in Zodiacus vitæ christianæ (1623).
      1. 1560

         > The first thre Bokes of the most christian Poet Marcellus Palingenius, called the Zodyake of lyfe: newly translated out of latin into English by Barnabe Googe.

         (title)
      2. a1586

         > The Poet..goeth hand in hand with Nature, not inclosed within the narrow warrant of her guifts, but freely ranging onely within the Zodiack of his owne wit.

         Sir P. Sidney, Apologie for Poetrie (1595) sig. C1v
      3. 1607

         > It moues not once within the Zodiacke of my expectation.

         T. Walkington, Optick Glasse Epistle
      4. 1629

         > In your yeares Zodiacke may you fairely moue.

         T. Dekker, Londons Tempe 351
      5. a1631

         > Thy illustrious Zodiacke Of twelve Apostles, which ingirt this All.

         J. Donne, Poems (1633) 176
      6. a1657

         > Gladlie hast Through Follie's Zodiacke, from the first to th' Last.

         G. Daniel, Poems (1878) vol. II. 94
      7. 1745

         > Thro' various Virtues, they, with Ardor, ran The Zodiac of their learn'd, illustrious Lives.

         E. Young, Consolation 50
      8. 1856

         > The Catholic church..moves through a zodiac of feasts and fasts.

         R. W. Emerson, English Traits xiii. 218
      9. 1888

         > I saw my turn had come, and the revolving zodiac brought its fairest sign to me.

         J. Ruskin, Præterita vol. III. ii. 67
      allusive
      1. wheel?c1225–
         figurative. A reiterated or recurring course of actions, events, or time; an endless round or cycle.
      2. circle c1425–
         (a) A completed revolution or course of time, or of action, or events in time; a cycle, period. (b) ‘Any series ending as it begins, and…
      3. revolution 1554–1706
         A recurring period of time, a cycle; an epoch. Obsolete.
      4. zodiac 1560–
         figurative and allusively. (a) Recurrent series, round, course. (b) Compass, range. (c) Set of twelve.
      5. circuit 1601–
         figurative; esp. of time: Revolution, round. †by circuit: at regularly recurring times (obsolete).
      6. compass 1609–
         A circuit of time, round, revolution.
      7. orb?1611–1742
         A recurring period; a cycle. Obsolete.
      8. round 1652–
         The constant passage and recurrence of days, years, or other cyclical measures of time; the passage of time in cyclical periods. Also: a…
      9. cycle 1662–
         gen. A period in which a certain round of events or phenomena is completed, recurring in the same order in succeeding periods of the same length.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. brede?c1225–1500
         figurative. Largeness of scope, extent, or reach (of love, charity, etc.).
      2. ampleness 1509–
         Largeness, extent, greatness (literal and figurative). Also: an instance of this.
      3. reach 1546–
         Extent or range of application, effect, influence, etc.
      4. compass 1555–
         figurative. Bounds, limits, as in within, beyond the compass of (sight, knowledge, power, ability, etc.); range or extent within limits; and, more…
      5. zodiac 1560–
         figurative and allusively. (a) Recurrent series, round, course. (b) Compass, range. (c) Set of twelve.
      6. extent 1593–
         ‘Space or degree to which anything is extended’ (Johnson). Breadth of comprehension; width of application, operation, etc.; scope.
      7. range 1599–
         The area or extent which a particular concept or thing covers or includes; the scope of something.
      8. verge 1599–1734
         In phrases (as preceding). The range, sphere, or scope of something; all that is naturally included or comprehended under a particular concept…
      9. extension 1604–
         Of immaterial things: The range over which anything extends; degree of extensiveness.
      10. latitude 1605–
          Extent, range, scope. Also, great or full extent. Now rare.
      11. extendure 1610–90
          = extension, n.
      12. point-blank a1616–52
          figurative. Range or reach (of jurisdiction, etc.). Obsolete. rare.
      13. comprisement 1640
          Comprehension; compass.
      14. comprisure a1641
          Comprehension, compass; a summary.
      15. virge 1640–71
          transferred. = verge, n.¹ III.12.
      16. tour 1699–1737
          The course or compass of anything; what it amounts to; range, scope. Obsolete.
      17. purview 1751–
          Range of physical or mental vision, outlook; range of experience or thought, consideration.
      18. gamut 1753–
          The full range or scope of something. Now frequently as the whole gamut. See also to run the gamut at phrases.
      19. sweep 1781–
          Extent or range of thought, observation, experience, influence, power, etc.
      20. diapason 1851–
          transferred and figurative. Entire compass, range, reach, scope.
      21. carry 1859–
          gen. The reach, scope, or range of something; the power of something to carry for a distance.
      View in Historical Thesaurus
      1. dozen 1340–
         A group or set of twelve. Originally as a noun, followed by of, but often with ellipsis of of, and thus, in singular = twelve. Also, used…
      2. brown dozen?1499–
         With qualifying words. baker's dozen (see baker's dozen, n.), devil's dozen, long dozen (see long dozen, n.), printer's dozen: thirteen. brown dozen…
      3. zodiac 1560–
         figurative and allusively. (a) Recurrent series, round, course. (b) Compass, range. (c) Set of twelve.
      4. round dozen a1572–
         a. Originally Scottish a dozen exactly; cf. round, adj. II.12; b. Nautical thirteen lashes, as a punishment (now historical).
      5. twelve 1573–
         A set or group of twelve persons or things; esp. a company of twelve players forming a ‘side’ at some game.
      6. quest?1589
         In extended use: a dozen. Obsolete. rare.
      7. jury 1592–1650
         (From the usual number of persons in a jury in sense I.1) A company of twelve; a dozen. Obsolete.
      8. dodecade 1659–86
         A group, set, or series of twelve.
      View in Historical Thesaurus

### Additional sense (1993)

1. 1959–
   Properly with capital initial. A proprietary name for a make of inflatable dinghy, esp. one powered by an outboard motor.
   1. 1959

      > Zodiac. Priority claimed..on French Reg. No. 471,582, dated Apr. 11, 1958... For pneumatic boats.

      Official Gazette (U.S. Patent Office) 31 March tm194/1
   2. 1959

      > Zodiac..Aircraft; and boats and fittings therefor included in Class 12... 20th June 1958.

      Trade Marks Journal 12 August 655/2
   3. 1974

      > There'll be more demos on the cherry-picker with the ‘zodiac’ and divers.

      Canadian Forces Sentinel (Ottawa) ii. 6/3
   4. 1986

      > Best (or worst) of all, an old fisherman in a tiny, anchored, inflatable zodiac..oblivious to the stampede.

      Auckland Star 7 February a1/6
   5. 1991

      > Twin 357hp Volvo provide 25 knots max. Autopilot, Mase generator, Zodiac dinghy and outboard etc.

      Motor Boat & Yachting January 266/2 (advertisement)
   sailing
   1. zodiac 1959–
      Properly with capital initial. A proprietary name for a make of inflatable dinghy, esp. one powered by an outboard motor.
   2. banana boat 1987–
      A long inflatable boat, typically yellow in colour and in the shape of a tube with tapered ends, which several people can sit astride, and which…
   View in Historical Thesaurus

### Additional sense (2010)

1. 1784–
   Originally in China and East Asia: an astrological scheme based on the Chinese calendar, in which each year of a twelve-year cycle is represented by one of twelve animals associated with specific attributes, which a person born in that period of time is believed to possess.
   In some applications of the scheme these animals are also each associated with a particular lunar month and time of day.
   The twelve animals which are represented vary throughout East Asia (and occasionally also in English renderings of the names). A common scheme begins with the rat and includes the ox (or cow), tiger, rabbit, dragon, snake, horse, goat (or sheep), monkey, rooster, dog, and pig (or boar).
   1. 1784

      > The twelve signs into which their [sc. the Chinese] zodiac is divided, viz. 1. The mouse, 2. the ox, or cow, 3. the tyger, 4. the hare, 5. the dragon, 6. the serpent, 7. the horse, 8. the sheep, 9. the monkey, 10. the cock, or hen, 11. the dog, 12. the boar.

      R. Dunthorne et al., Long's Astronomy (new edition) vol. II. v. 662
   2. 1821

      > In the two zodiacs vulgarly called Tatar and Chaldean, or Egyptian, (in the zodiac which contains the sign of the Rat, and in that which contains those of the Fishes and Aquarius).

      H. M. Williams, translation of A. von Humboldt, Personal Narrative of Travels vol. V. ii. xxiv. 745
   3. 1895

      > The eaves of the lower story are decorated with painted carvings of the twelve signs of the zodiac: the rat, ox, tiger, hare, dragon,..[etc.].

      K. S. Baxter, In Bamboo Lands iii. 95
   4. 1922

      > The Chinese zodiac..figures largely in Japanese superstition. As there are twelve animals, years are counted off in cycles of twelve; and the same animals are also associated with days and hours.

      J. Street, Mysterious Japan xxvi. 317
   5. 1980

      > According to legend, Buddha called all the creatures to him for a celebration, but only twelve came. The order in which they arrived determined the year each symbolizes in the zodiac.

      Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin vol. 38 No. 2. 21/1
   6. 2009

      > As for the zodiac forecast,..those born in the Year of the Ox, Rabbit, Snake, Horse, Goat, and Boar will face difficult times this year.

      New Straits Times (Malaysia) (Nexis) 26 January 2
   astrology

## Pronunciation

### British English

/ˈzəʊdiak/
ZOH-dee-ak

### U.S. English

/ˈzoʊdiˌæk/
ZOH-dee-ak

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- ɬrhingyll
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛtl/ but /ˈpɛtl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- iːfleece
- ihappy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- atrap, bath
- ɑːstart, palm, bath
- ɒlot
- ɔːthought, force
- ʌstrut
- ʊfoot
- uːgoose
- əletter
- əːnurse
- ɪənear
- ɛːsquare
- ʊəcure
- eɪface
- ʌɪpride
- aʊmouth
- əʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ãgratin
- ɒ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

##### Consonants

- ppea
- ttea
- kkey
- bbuy
- ddye*
- ɡguy
- tʃchore
- dʒjay
- ffore
- θthaw
- ssore
- ʃshore
- vvee
- ðthee
- zzee
- ʒbeige
- xloch
- hhay
- llay
- rray
- wway
- jyore
- mmay
- nnay
- ŋsing

* /d/ also represents a 'tapped' /t/ as in

Some consonants can take the function of the vowel in unstressed syllables. Where necessary, a syllabic marker diacritic is used, hence /ˈpɛd(ə)l/ but /ˈpɛdl̩i/.

##### Vowels

- ifleece, happy
- ɪkit
- ɛdress
- ætrap, bath
- ɑlot, palm, cloth, thought
- ɑrstart
- ɔcloth, thought
- ɔrnorth, force
- ʊfoot
- ugoose
- əstrut, comma
- ərnurse, letter
- ɪ(ə)rnear
- ɛ(ə)rsquare
- ʊ(ə)rcure
- eɪface
- aɪpride
- aʊmouth
- oʊgoat
- ɔɪvoice
- ɑ̃gratin
- æ̃salon
- ᵻ(/ɪ/-/ə/)
- ᵿ(/ʊ/-/ə/)

##### Other symbols

- The symbol ˈ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with primary stress.
- The symbol ˌ at the beginning of a syllable indicates that that syllable is pronounced with secondary stress.
- Round brackets ( ) in a transcription indicate that the symbol within the brackets is optional.

View the pronunciation model here.

####

Simple text respell breaks words into syllables, separated by a hyphen. The syllable which carries the primary stress is written in capital letters. This key covers both British and U.S. English Simple Text Respell.

##### Consonants

b, d, f, h, k, l, m, n, p, r, s, t, v, w and z have their standard English values

- gguy
- jjay
- yyore
- chchore
- khloch
- shshore
- ththaw
- dhthee
- zhbeige

##### Vowels

- atrap
- ahpalm
- airsquare
- arstart
- arrcarry (British only)
- awthought
- ayface
- a(ng)gratin
- edress
- eefleece
- eerdeer
- errmerry
- ikit
- ighpride
- irrmirror
- olot (British only)
- ohgoat
- oogoose
- oorcure
- orforce
- orrsorry (British only)
- owmouth
- oyvoice
- o(ng)salon
- ustrut
- uhletter
- urnurse
- urrhurry
- uufoot

## Forms

### Variant forms

Middle English–1600s zodiak, zodiake, Middle English–1700s zodiaque, Middle English zodyak, zodyack, ( sodyak, zodias), 1500s zodiacque, 1500s–1600s zodiacke, 1500s–1700s zodiack, (1600s zodiaq), Middle English– zodiac.

## Frequency

zodiac typically occurs about 0.7 times per million words in modern written English.

zodiac is in frequency band 4, which contains words occurring between 0.1 and 1 times per million words in modern written English. More about OED's frequency bands

Frequency data is computed programmatically, and should be regarded as an estimate.

### Frequency of zodiac, n., 1750–2010

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Historical frequency series are derived from Google Books Ngrams (version 2), a data set based on the Google Books corpus of several million books printed in English between 1500 and 2010.

The overall frequency for a given word is calculated by summing frequencies for the main form of the word, any plural or inflected forms, and any major spelling variations.

For sets of homographs (distinct entries that share the same word-form, e.g. mole, n.¹, mole, n.², mole, n.³, etc.), we have estimated the frequency of each homograph entry as a fraction of the total Ngrams frequency for the word-form. This may result in inaccuracies.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the Google Books corpus.

Decade | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
1750 | 0.92
1760 | 0.88
1770 | 1.1
1780 | 1.1
1790 | 1.2
1800 | 1.4
1810 | 1.5
1820 | 1.3
1830 | 1.2
1840 | 1.1
1850 | 0.95
1860 | 0.82
1870 | 0.75
1880 | 0.67
1890 | 0.62
1900 | 0.55
1910 | 0.51
1920 | 0.5
1930 | 0.52
1940 | 0.53
1950 | 0.55
1960 | 0.57
1970 | 0.6
1980 | 0.63
1990 | 0.68
2000 | 0.7
2010 | 0.74

### Frequency of zodiac, n., 2017–2024

* Occurrences per million words in written English

Modern frequency series are derived from a corpus of 20 billion words, covering the period from 2017 to the present. The corpus is mainly compiled from online news sources, and covers all major varieties of World English.

Smoothing has been applied to series for lower-frequency words, using a moving-average algorithm. This reduces short-term fluctuations, which may be produced by variability in the content of the corpus.

Period | Frequency per million words
--- | ---
2017 | 1.2
2018 | 1.3
2019 | 1.5
2020 | 1.5
2021 | 1.6
2022 | 1.8
2023 | 2.0
2024 | 2.2

## Compounds & derived words

Sort by

1. zodiac circle, n. 1447–

1. zodiac line, n. 1590
   The zodiac.

1. exzodiacal, adj. 1803–
   Of the minor planets: Having an orbit that passes…

1. zodiac-lion, n. 1818–

1. zodiac-figure, n. 1844–

1. zodiac-zoned, adj. 1856–

1. zodiac-sign, n. 1883–

1. zodiac ring, n. 1895–
   A ring with figures of the signs of the zodiac.

1. C.1.
   attributive (originally adj.).
   1. zodiac circle, n. 1447–
   1. zodiac line, n. 1590
      The zodiac.
   1. zodiac-lion, n. 1818–
   1. zodiac-figure, n. 1844–
   1. zodiac-sign, n. 1883–
   1. zodiac ring, n. 1895–
      A ring with figures of the signs of the zodiac.
2. C.2.
   1. zodiac-zoned, adj. 1856–

zodiac, n. was first published in 1921; not fully revised.

zodiac, n. was last modified in June 2024.