Definition of zodiac

The word "zodiac" originates from the Greek word "ζωδιακός" (zōdiakós), which is derived from "ζῷον" (zōion), meaning "animal", and ".reader" or " circle". In ancient Greek, the term referred to the circle of the stars that the Sun, Moon, and planets appear to traverse over the course of a year. The word was later adopted into Latin as "zodiacus", and from there it was translated into various European languages. In astronomy, the zodiac refers to the pathway that the Sun, Moon, and planets take through the twelve constellations of the night sky. Over time, the term has also become associated with astrology, which uses the positions of stars and planets in the zodiac to make predictions about human affairs and personalities.