Vega

noun

Ve·​ga ˈvē-gə How to pronounce Vega (audio) ˈvā- How to pronounce Vega (audio)
: the brightest star in the constellation Lyra

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Medieval Latin Wega, Vega, altered from the terminal syllables of Arabic al-nasr al-wāqiʽ, literally, "the descending eagle," originally a name applied to the three stars α, β and γ Lyrae

First Known Use

circa 1638, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Vega was circa 1638

Rhymes for Vega

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Cite this Entry

“Vega.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Vega. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

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Biographical Definition

Vega

biographical name

Ve·​ga ˈvā-gə How to pronounce Vega (audio)
Lo*pe ˈlō-(ˌ)pā How to pronounce Vega (audio) de 1562–1635 Lope Félix de Vega Carpio Spanish dramatist

More from Merriam-Webster on Vega

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Vega

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