star-n; 10 Senses

Sense Number 1: self-illuminating gaseous celestial bodies

Commentary: STAR[+body][+celestial][+self_illuminating]

Examples:
The nearest star to our solar system is about four light years away.
A neutron star no longer emits light. (But it once did, so it qualifies)
Betelgeuse is a star that can be seen with the naked eye.
Imagery from the telescope revealed a star nursery within the nebula.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 1, 3

Sense Number 2: a hotshot or ace, a gifted person or animal

Commentary: STAR[+individual][+skilled][+exceptionally]
NOTE: focus is on ability, aptitude, not fame or prominence (see Sense 4)

Examples:
John was a track star in high school.
The young professor from Argentina is considered a rising star in the field of economics. (figurative)
We watched the all star game on television. (top sports players)
She proved to be the star of the debating club.
That three-year-old filly is one of this year's stars on the racing circuit.
One of the Red Sox's star pitchers received an injury last night when a ball struck his shin.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 3: a geometric plane figure, typically with five points

Commentary: STAR[+figure][+plane][+point][+five]
NOTE: A star may have more points, but not less than five.

Examples:
Mary hung a star on top of the Christmas tree.
The child drew a six-pointed star on the page.
You can cut the cookie dough into stars or circles, or other shapes.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 5

Sense Number 4: a famous, principal participant, e.g., entertainers, headliners

Commentary: STAR[+entertainer][+famous] [+role][+performer][+principal]
NOTE: focus is on fame, notoriety and prominence, rather than ability or aptitude. (see Sense 2)
NOTE: often refers to entertainers, but can include politicians, witnesses and others who play a central role in something.

Examples:
The woman sitting at the next table is a famous opera star.
Many film stars attended the opening last night.
The director is looking for a star to play the leading man.
Penguins are the stars in that documentary.
John is singing backup vocals for that famous rock star.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 4, 6

Sense Number 5: notation, an asterisk

Commentary: STAR[+notation][+asterisk]

Examples:
An asterisk is also called the star character.
Enter the numbers and then hit the star key.
I put a star next to the items on the task list that I must get finished today.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 7

Sense Number 6: a network topology, a network configuration

Commentary: STAR[+topology][+form]

Examples:
A star network topology has a central hub unlike a ring network.
The company has linked several star networks together to form a hybrid.

Mappings:
WordNet 3.0 Sense Numbers: 8

Sense Number 7: a white marking on the nose of an animal, e.g., horse

Commentary: STAR[+marking][+nose][+animal]

Examples:
Mary's chestnut stallion has a white star on his forehead.
The kitten was all black except for a white star on his face.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2c

Sense Number 8: destiny, fate, horoscope

Commentary: STAR[+state][+destiny][+horoscope]
NOTE: 'stars' includes planets in this sense, harkening back to the times when the planets were noticed to be 'wandering stars', distinct from the fixed stars.

Examples:
You should thank your lucky stars!
She believes her fate is written in the stars.
The stars say you will meet a handsome stranger today.
His star has faded of late. (figurative sense, his power and fate are not going well)
He was born under an unlucky star.
Observers have been watching China's rising star. (figurative, good fortune)

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2

Sense Number 9: a judgement of excellence

Commentary: STAR[+event][+judgement][+excellence]

Examples:
Pierre's restaurant received its third Michelin star this year.
The teacher put a gold star on Johnny's spelling test, and a silver one on Tommy's.
They stayed at a four-star hotel on Barbados.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: 2a

Sense Number 10: experience visual effects from hitting the head

Commentary: Idiom: see_stars

Examples:
Pete saw stars when the lid of the piano fell down on his head.
I'd better sit down for a moment because I'm still seeing stars.

Mappings:
WordNet 0.0 Sense Numbers: see_stars