aster
/ˈæs.tə(ɹ)/ noun, proper noun
Forms asters
- noun Any of several plants of the genus Aster; one of its flowers.
- noun (biology) A star-shaped structure formed during the mitosis of a cell.
- noun (obsolete) A star.
- proper noun A unisex given name from Latin.
- proper noun A surname.
Etymology
From Latin astēr, from Ancient Greek ἀστήρ (astḗr). Doublet of star; related to estoile, étoile, stella, and stelo.
From aster (“a plant of the genus Aster”) and its etymon Latin astēr (“a star”).
* From German Aster, originating as a nickname from Middle High German agelster (“a magpie”), owing to the bird being known especially in the Middle Ages for mischievous tricks.
* A variant of Easter.
Webster’s 1913
- noun A genus of herbs with compound white or bluish flowers; starwort; Michaelmas daisy.
- noun A plant of the genus Callistephus. Many varieties (called China asters, German asters, etc.) are cultivated for their handsome compound flowers.
Etymology [L. aster aster, star, Gr. Star.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “aster”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details