North Star

From Middle English north sterre, norþ sterre, equivalent to north +‎ star.

North Star

1. (astronomy) The current northern pole star, the star nearest the northern celestial pole, which has been Polaris for the last 1500 years.
2. A village in New South Wales, Australia.
3. A hamlet in the County of Northern Lights, Alberta, Canada.
4. An unincorporated community in Yuba County, California, formerly North Star House.
5. A census-designated place in New Castle County, Delaware.
6. An unincorporated community in Nicollet County, Minnesota.
7. A village in Darke County, Ohio.
8. An unincorporated community in Portage County, Wisconsin.
9. A number of townships in the United States, listed under North Star Township.
10. A settlement on the island of Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands.

• (star near the northern celestial pole): Pole Star, Lode Star

• (star near the northern celestial pole): Polaris, Alpha Ursae Minoris, α Ursae Minoris (c. 500–present); Kochab, Beta Ursae Minoris, β Ursae Minoris (c. 1000 BC – AD 300); Pherkad, Gamma Ursae Minoris, γ Ursae Minoris (c. 1000 BC – AD 300); Kappa Draconis, κ Draconis (historical, c. 1793–1000 BC); Thuban, Alpha Draconis, α Draconis (historical, c. 3942–1793 BC)

• Fairbanks North Star Borough

North Star (plural North Stars)

1. (figurative) An aim or a goal, a dependable guiding light in a quickly changing world.
   • 2012, Darrin Grinder, Steve Shaw, The Presidents & Their Faith:

     For Wilson, his religion served as guiding principle, not a series of explicit religious dictates governing politics: “Wilson's principles, derived from his religious faith, were his North Star, which pointed him in a general direction.

   • 2018, Frank M. Guttman, Honoré Beaugrand: a Traditional “Rouge”?:

     His North Star was Rome, his compass was the Holy Office, “My polar star is Rome; my compass is the Holy Office.”

   • 2019, Karen A. McClintock, When Trauma Wounds: Pathways to Healing and Hope, page 155:

     Believing that he would return to life when he was ready, she became his North Star.

   • 2021, Ashley Stahl, You Turn, page 272:

     The wise voice in my head agreed with her and told me something I'd never forget: Stop going against yourself. Be you. All the way. And watch life work for you. This voice, my intuition, has become my North Star in life.

• NSM

• Polaris on Wikipedia.Wikipedia