English Explanatory Dictionary

asteroid

English dictionary entry

Meanings

noun
  1. A naturally occurring solid object, which is smaller than a planet and a dwarf planet, larger than a meteoroid and not a comet, that orbits a star and often has an irregular shape.
  2. In the Solar System, such a body that orbits within the orbit of Jupiter.
noun
  1. Any member of the taxonomic class Asteroidea; a starfish.

Pronunciation

ăs'tə-roid" /ˈæst(ə)ɹɔɪd/ en-us-asteroid.ogg

Word forms

asteroid asteroids

Etymology

From aster + -oid, lit. "star-like". Coined by William Herschel.

Related words

aster asterisk asterism minor planet astroid comet exoasteroid meteor meteorite planetoid

Derived words

Apohele asteroid asterite asteroidal asteroid belt asteroidlike Aten asteroid Atira asteroid binary asteroid disasteroid icesteroid iceteroid interasteroid kuiperoid Vatira asteroid ꞌAylóꞌchaxnim asteroid
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