Webster's English Dictionary

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zodiac

zo.di.ac \'zo-d-e--.ak\ \zo--'di--*-k*l, z*-\ n [ME, fr. MF zodiaque, fr. L 
   zodiacus, fr. Gk zo-idiakos, f]r. zo-idiakos, adj., of carved figures, of 
   the zodiac, fr. zo-idion carved figure, sign of the zodiac, fr. dim. of 
   zo-ion living being, figure; akin to Gk zo-e- life - more at QUICK 1a: an 
   imaginary belt in the heavens usu. 18 degrees wide that encompasses  the 
   apparent paths of all the principal planets except Pluto, that has the 
   ecliptic as its central line, and that is divided into 12 constellations or 
   signs each taken for astrological purposes to extend 30 degrees of 
   longitude 1b: a figure representing the signs of the zodiac and their 
   symbols  2: a cyclic course (as of time)  - zo.di.a.cal aj