astre
celestial body, star
noun AHSTR Rare
Origin: Latin astrum, from Greek astron (star)
Usage Note
Astre is a more literary or poetic word than étoile: while étoile is the everyday word for a star, astre encompasses any heavenly body (stars, planets, moons) and carries a loftier register. The adjective astral derives from it. Astre also appears in l'astre du jour (a literary phrase for the sun).
Examples
"La lune est l'astre qui nous guide la nuit."
Natural Translation
The moon is the celestial body that guides us at night.

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