aster
|as-ter|
🇺🇸
/ˈæs.tər/
🇬🇧
/ˈæs.tə/
star / star-shaped
Etymology
'aster' originates from Greek, specifically the word 'astḗr', where the root 'ast-' meant 'star'.
'aster' passed from Greek 'astḗr' into Latin as 'aster' and then into Medieval and Middle English; because the flower's corolla looks like a small star, the name came to be used for the plant as well as for star-shaped objects.
Initially, it meant 'star' in the literal celestial sense, but over time it evolved to refer especially to star-shaped flowers (the genus Aster) and, by extension, any star-shaped structure.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a garden plant of the genus Aster (family Asteraceae), typically with star-shaped flower heads; often blooms in late summer and autumn.
The garden was full of purple asters in September.
Synonyms
Noun 2
a star-shaped figure or design (anything having the form or likeness of a star).
The emblem featured a small aster at the center.
Synonyms
Noun 3
in cell biology, a radial array of microtubules around a centrosome during cell division (also called a 'star' or 'aster' in mitosis).
Under the microscope, the biologist observed an aster forming during cell division.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/05 17:08