aster

1 of 2

noun

as·​ter ˈa-stər How to pronounce aster (audio)
1
a
: any of various chiefly fall-blooming leafy-stemmed composite herbs (Aster and closely related genera) with often showy heads containing disk flowers or both disk and ray flowers
2
: a system of microtubules arranged radially about a centriole at either end of the mitotic or meiotic spindle

Illustration of aster

Illustration of aster
  • aster 1a

-aster

2 of 2

noun suffix

: one that is inferior or not genuine
criticaster

Examples of aster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The complex was beset by scrubby clay slopes dotted with sagebrush, California aster, evergreen oaks. Amanda Petrusich, The New Yorker, 30 Sep. 2024 Protect –Erosion control isn’t just for slopes: Protect your soil by planting native grasses and groundcovers such as woodland strawberry, yarrow, or California aster. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 24 Sep. 2024 Bonus: in early October, the New England aster wildflower blooms purple along the towpath trail, where in the 1800s mules pulled boats up and down the Erie Canal. Graham Averill, Outside Online, 16 Sep. 2024 The aster and morning glory also represent those born in September. Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 1 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for aster 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

(sense 1) borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin aster-, astēr "a plant, probably Aster amellus," borrowed from Greek aster-, astḗr "star, the plant Aster amellus"; (sense 2) borrowed from Greek aster-, astḗr "star" — more at star entry 1

Noun suffix

Middle English, from Latin, suffix denoting partial resemblance

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of aster was in 1664

Dictionary Entries Near aster

Cite this Entry

“Aster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aster. Accessed 6 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

aster

noun
as·​ter ˈas-tər How to pronounce aster (audio)
: any of various mostly fall-blooming leafy-stemmed herbs related to the daisies usually with showy white, pink, purple, or yellow flower heads

Medical Definition

aster

noun
as·​ter ˈas-tər How to pronounce aster (audio)
: a system of microtubules arranged in rays around a centriole at either end of the mitotic or meiotic spindle
The first stage in the formation of the mitotic spindle in a typical animal cell is the appearance of microtubules in a "sunburst" arrangement, or aster, around each centrosome during early prophase.Gerald Karp, Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments, 6th edition

called also cytaster

More from Merriam-Webster on aster

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