-aster

¹

1. a diminutive or pejorative suffix denoting something that imperfectly resembles or mimics the true thing:

   criticaster; poetaster, oleaster.

-aster

²

1. Chiefly Biology. a combining form with the meaning “star,” used in the formation of compound words:

   diaster.

aster

³

[ as-ter ]

noun

1. any composite plant of the genus Aster, having rays varying from white or pink to blue around a yellow disk.
2. a plant of some allied genus, as the China aster.
3. Cell Biology. a structure formed in a cell during mitosis, composed of astral rays radiating about the centrosome.
4. Furniture. sunflower ( def 2 ).

-aster

¹

suffix forming nouns

1. a person or thing that is inferior or bears only a poor resemblance to what is specified

   poetaster

aster

²

/ ˈæstə /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Aster, having white, blue, purple, or pink daisy-like flowers: family Asteraceae (composites) Compare golden aster
2. China aster
   a related Chinese plant, Callistephus chinensis, widely cultivated for its showy brightly coloured flowers
3. cytology a group of radiating microtubules that surrounds the centrosome before and during mitosis

Word History and Origins

Origin of -aster¹

From Latin

Origin of -aster²

< Greek astḗr star; astro-

Origin of -aster³

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin, from Greek astḗr “star”; star

Word History and Origins

Origin of -aster¹

from Latin: suffix indicating imperfect resemblance

Origin of -aster²

C18: from New Latin, from Latin aster star, from Greek

Example Sentences

The sun-blasted town of Randsburg sprang up virtually overnight, and the area’s largest mine, the Yellow Aster, produced the modern equivalent of more than $25 million over the next 30 years.

From Los Angeles Times

His land features five gold mines and shares a fence line with the famed Yellow Aster mine, so he’s confident that there’s plenty of gold beneath the surface.

From Los Angeles Times

But high winds have deafened the instruments to the rumblings from deeper magma, says Rick Aster, a geophysicist at Colorado State University.

From Science Magazine

Aster hopes the new seismic stations will reveal why the lava lake can shift from agitation to years of quiet and why, in earlier times, Erebus erupted more violently.

From Science Magazine

It’s as if Ari Aster had a leftover prop from “Hereditary” that was gathering dust inside an A24 storage shed and someone decided to insert it into “We Live in Time” just to see if anyone would notice.

From Los Angeles Times

Words That Use -aster

What does -aster mean?

The combining form -aster is used like a suffix that has two distinct senses.

The first of these senses is to denote something that imperfectly resembles or mimics the true thing, typically as a pejorative (negative) or diminutive (implying something is small). This form of -aster is occasionally used in a variety of everyday and technical terms. The form -aster comes from Latin -aster, which indicates a partial resemblance to something and may be pejorative depending on context.

The second of these senses is “star,” and this form of -aster is occasionally used in a variety of scientific terms, particularly in biology. This form of -aster comes from Greek astḗr, meaning “star.” The Latin cognate of astḗr is stella, also meaning “star,” which can be found in words such as stellar and stelliferous. Check out our entries for both words to learn more.

What are variants of -aster with the sense “star”?

While not a variant of -aster, the combining form astro- has a similar meaning: “related to stars.” Learn more about the form astro- at our Words That Use article for the term.

Examples of -aster with the sense “imperfect resemblance”

One example of a word that features the suffix -aster in the sense of “imperfect resemblance” is criticaster, “an incompetent critic.”

As you may have guessed, critic- means “critic,” as in a person who judges or criticizes. The -aster part of the word means “something that imperfectly mimics the true thing.” Criticaster literally translates to “an imperfect mimic of a critic.”

What are some words that use the suffix -aster?

• oleaster (using the equivalent form of -aster in Latin)
• poetaster (using the equivalent form of -aster in Latin)
• philosophaster (using the equivalent form of -aster in Latin)
• pilaster

What are some other forms that -aster may be commonly confused with?

• -ase
• -asis
• -ass
• -ator

Break it down!

Given the meaning of the suffix -aster, what is a poetaster?

More About Aster

What is an aster?

An aster is a flower with a white, pink, blue, or purple petals around a yellow middle.

The name aster can be used for any plant in the genus Aster. Asters are similar to daisies and are in the same family. They are sometimes called Michaelmas daisies.

Species of asters commonly planted in gardens include those known as the New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae–angliae) and the New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii). Some varieties of asters are used as cut flowers by florists.

The aster is one of the September birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone).

Example: We planted asters around the grass in the garden.

Where does aster come from?

The first records of the word aster come from around 1600. It comes from the Greek astḗr, meaning “star.” Other star-related words are based on the same root, such as astronomy, asteroid, and asterisk. Asters are named for their star-shaped flowers.

Asters are native to Eurasia. They are perennial, herbaceous plants that bloom late in the growing season—sometimes in September, for which they are one of the birth flowers. Asters are often classified as either “wild” or “cultivated.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some synonyms for aster?

• Michaelmas daisy

What are some words that share a root or word element with aster? 

• asteroid
• asterisk
• astronomy
• China aster

What are some words that often get used in discussing aster?

• flower
• white
• pink
• blue
• purple
• garden
• cultivated
• wild
• daisy

How is aster used in real life?

Asters are popular as garden flowers due to their colorful blooms.

Front garden is shaping up. Trying out some new ideas this year: Jasmine, Dahlias, Aster, Chrysanthemum, Campanula, Rudbeckia, Thyme. Definitely in an experimental phase and loving it. Allium “Millennium” still my favourite and doing well in the spring sun!

— Craig Munro (@craigmunro) April 5, 2021

Native New England aster in my late summer backyard garden, super easy and prolific. Start with just a couple of seedlings from a native plant sale, and you're set for years to come. These are a lifesaver for migrating birds, #hummingbirds #pollinators #butterflies #biodiversity pic.twitter.com/yGArh5jmuy

— Susan (@OneWildLife1) April 3, 2021

Blooms of an aster add to the fall color in the Nebraska National Forest near Chadron. The aster is the birth flower for the month of Sept. pic.twitter.com/tz0qXtXzgy

— Nebraska Game and Parks (@NEGameandParks) October 7, 2016

 

 

Try using aster!

True or False? 

Asters are related to daisies.