spica

[spahy-kuh]

noun

plural

spicae, spicas 

1. spike.

2. a type of bandage in the shape of a figure eight, extending from an extremity to the trunk.

3. Astronomy.,  Spica, a first-magnitude star in the constellation Virgo.

Spica

¹

/ ˈspiːkə /

noun

1. the brightest star in the constellation Virgo. Distance: 260 light years

spica

²

/ ˈspaɪkə /

noun

1. med a spiral bandage formed by a series of overlapping figure-of-eight turns

2. botany another word for spike 2

Spica

1. A bright bluish-white binary star in the constellation Virgo, with an apparent magnitude of 0.96. Scientific name: Alpha Virginis.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Spica¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin spīca literally, “ear of grain”; spike ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of Spica¹

C15: from Latin: ear of corn

Example Sentences

On the evening of May 3, the nearly-full Moon passes just to the north of the bright star Spica.

From Washington Post

That’s a star named Spica that belongs to the Virgo constellation.

From Seattle Times

Two more stars you and your kids can find, with the help of the Big Dipper, are Arcturus and Spica.

From New York Times

She was also put in a Spica cast, which covers the legs, waist and part of the abdomen.

From BBC

The wife of mafia boss Salvatore Spica, in a wiretap, complained to her husband: “I used €100 for my mother’s groceries, €200 for the dentist. What’s left? All I have left is spare change.”

From The Guardian