'astraeiform' originates from New Latin/Modern scientific coinage, combining the element 'astrae(i)-' (from Greek 'astron' meaning 'star' via Latinized forms) with the Latin-derived suffix '-form' meaning 'shape or form'.

'astraeiform' is a modern descriptive formation (analogous to terms like 'asteriform' and other -form compounds) created in scientific and descriptive contexts to denote 'star-shaped' structures; it draws on the Greek root 'astr-'/'astron' through New Latin formations.

Initially used in specialized descriptive or taxonomic contexts to indicate resemblance to a star (or to taxa named with 'Astraea'/'Astraea-'), it has been used more generally to mean 'star-shaped' in technical descriptions.