The term ‘star’ comes from the Old English word ‘steorra’ and the Greek word ‘ἀστήρ’ (astēr), both of which refer to the shining celestial bodies we see in the night sky. The word has evolved over centuries, but its meaning has remained consistent, referring primarily to these luminous objects that generate light and heat through nuclear fusion in their cores.
Stars are massive, luminous spheres of plasma held together by their own gravity, and they shine due to the nuclear reactions occurring within them. When ancient civilizations looked up at the night sky, the bright points of light stood out against the darkness, and the name ‘star’ was appropriate for these distant suns. Their brightness and twinkling (caused by the Earth’s atmosphere) contributed to the allure and mystique surrounding them, leading to numerous cultural associations and myths throughout history.