asterism
UK /ˈas.təˌɹɪz.əm/ · US /ˈæs.təˌrɪz.əm/ noun
Forms asterisms
- noun (astronomy) An unofficial constellation (small group of stars that forms a visible pattern). “The Big Dipper, Summer Triangle, and Orion's Belt are asterisms.”
- noun A rarely used typographical symbol of three asterisks arranged in a triangle, ⁂, used to call attention to a passage or to separate subchapters in a book. Distinct from a dinkus which also uses asterisks to separate.
- noun (mineralogy) A star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals by reflected light (as in a star sapphire) or by transmitted light (as in some mica).
Synonyms
Etymology
From Ancient Greek ἀστερισμός (asterismós, “a group of stars”), from ἀστήρ (astḗr, “star”). Analyzable as aster- + -ism.
Webster’s 1913
- noun (a) A constellation. [Obs.]
- noun (a) An asterisk, or mark of reference. [R.]
Etymology [Gr. astérisme.]
Sources: Wiktionary · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “asterism”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details