PYXIS (pyxides)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: pyxides   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Pyxis mean? 

• PYXIS (noun)
  The noun PYXIS has 3 senses:

1. fruit of such plants as the plantain; a capsule whose upper part falls off when the seeds are released

2. a constellation in the southern hemisphere near Puppis and Antlia

3. a small box used by ancient Greeks to hold medicines

  Familiarity information: PYXIS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PYXIS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fruit of such plants as the plantain; a capsule whose upper part falls off when the seeds are released

Classified under:

Nouns denoting plants

Synonyms:

pyxidium; pyxis

Hypernyms ("pyxis" is a kind of...):

fruit (the ripened reproductive body of a seed plant)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A constellation in the southern hemisphere near Puppis and Antlia

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Instance hypernyms:

constellation (a configuration of stars as seen from the earth)

Holonyms ("Pyxis" is a part of...):

Argo (formerly a large constellation in the southern hemisphere between Canis Major and the Southern Cross; now divided into Carina and Pyxis and Puppis and Vela)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A small box used by ancient Greeks to hold medicines

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("pyxis" is a kind of...):

box (a (usually rectangular) container; may have a lid)