definitions

Vesta

[ ves-tuh ]
/ ˈvɛs tə /
|

noun

the ancient Roman goddess of the hearth, worshiped in a temple containing an altar on which a sacred fire was kept burning by the vestal virgins: identified with the Greek Hestia.
Astronomy. the third largest and one of the four brightest asteroids.
(lowercase) British. a short friction match with a wood or wax shank.
a female given name.

RELATED WORDS

Congreve, fusee, locofoco, vesuvian, Hestia

Origin of Vesta

1350–1400; Middle English < Latin
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for vesta

British Dictionary definitions for vesta (1 of 3)

vesta

/ (ˈvɛstə) /

noun

a short friction match, usually of wood

Word Origin for vesta

C19: named after the goddess; see Vesta 1

British Dictionary definitions for vesta (2 of 3)

Vesta

1
/ (ˈvɛstə) /

noun

the Roman goddess of the hearth and its fire. In her temple a perpetual flame was tended by the vestal virginsGreek counterpart: Hestia

British Dictionary definitions for vesta (3 of 3)

Vesta

2
/ (ˈvɛstə) /

noun

the brightest of the four largest asteroids. Diameter: about 530 km (240 miles)

Word Origin for Vesta

C19: named after the goddess; see Vesta 1
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

Science definitions for vesta

Vesta

[ vĕs′tə ]

The brightest of all the asteroids and the fourth to be discovered, in 1807. It is the third largest, with a diameter of about 530 km (329 mi), and the only asteroid that can be seen without a telescope. Evidence of lava flows on its surface suggests that it once had a molten interior. See more at asteroid.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Culture definitions for vesta

Vesta

[Greek name Hestia]

The Roman and Greek goddess of the hearth and home. Roman and Greek cities were supposed to have a public hearth dedicated to Vesta, at which the fire was kept constantly burning.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.