astronomical — 1550s, adj. from ASTRONOMY (Cf. astronomy) + ICAL (Cf. ical). Popular meaning immense, concerning very large figures (as sizes and distances in astronomy) is attested from 1899. Astronomical unit (abbrev. A.U.) mean distance from Earth to Sun,… … Etymology dictionary
astronomical — ► ADJECTIVE 1) relating to astronomy. 2) informal extremely large: astronomical fees. DERIVATIVES astronomic adjective astronomically adverb … English terms dictionary
astronomical — index prodigious (enormous) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 … Law dictionary
astronomical — [adj] huge astronomic*, colossal, considerable, enormous, epic, gigantic, ginormous*, humongous*, jumbo, mammoth, massive, mega*, monster*, monumental, prodigious, sizeable, tremendous, vast, very big, very large, whopping*; concept 771 Ant.… … New thesaurus
astronomical — [as΄trə näm′i kəl] adj. 1. of or having to do with astronomy 2. extremely large, as the numbers or quantities used in astronomy: Also astronomic astronomically adv … English World dictionary
astronomical — [[t]æ̱strənɒ̱mɪk(ə)l[/t]] 1) ADJ (emphasis) If you describe an amount, especially the cost of something as astronomical, you are emphasizing that it is very large indeed. Houses in the village are going for astronomical prices... The cost will be … English dictionary
astronomical — also astronomic adjective Date: 1556 1. of or relating to astronomy < astronomical observations > 2. enormously or inconceivably large or great < astronomical numbers > • astronomically adverb … New Collegiate Dictionary
astronomical — adjective /ˌæs.trəˈnɒm.ɪk.əl,ˌæstrəˈnɑːmɪkəl/ a) Of or relating to astronomy. Finally, all men saw that astronomical knowledge lied not, and they awaited the comet. b) Very large; of vast measure. At the moment he wondered why anyone would want… … Wiktionary
astronomical — [ˌæstrəˈnɒmɪk(ə)l] adj 1) informal an astronomical amount is extremely large astronomical prices[/ex] 2) relating to the scientific study of the stars and planets … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
astronomical — mod. extremely expensive; of any very high figure. □ The prices here are astronomical! □ The market indexes have all reached astronomical heights for the second time … Dictionary of American slang and colloquial expressions