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definitions

aster

[ as-ter ]
/ ˈæs tər /
|

noun

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

Nearby words

  1. astatide,
  2. astatine,
  3. astbury,
  4. asteatosis,
  5. asteism,
  6. aster yellows,
  7. asteraceous,
  8. astereognosis,
  9. asteriated,
  10. asterion

Origin of aster

1595–1605; < Latin < Greek astḗr star

Definition for aster (2 of 3)

-aster

1

a diminutive or pejorative suffix denoting something that imperfectly resembles or mimics the true thing: criticaster; poetaster, oleaster.

Origin of -aster

1
From Latin

Definition for aster (3 of 3)

-aster

2

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

Origin of -aster

2
< Greek astḗr star; cf. astro-
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for aster

British Dictionary definitions for aster (1 of 2)

aster

/ (ˈæstə) /

noun

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

Word Origin for aster

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

British Dictionary definitions for aster (2 of 2)

-aster

suffix forming nouns

a person or thing that is inferior or bears only a poor resemblance to what is specifiedpoetaster

Word Origin for -aster

from Latin: suffix indicating imperfect resemblance
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Medicine definitions for aster

aster

[ ăs′tər ]

n.

astrosphere
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.