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
In the fall, goldenrods, sunflowers, and several varieties of asters begin to bloom, while February marks the arrival of spicebush blossoms, rhododendrons, and flame azaleas. Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 5 Mar. 2024 Drawing inspiration from desert oases, the Wild About U Bouquet is arranged with some of The Bouqs Co.’s favorite flowers and plants, including alstroemeria, solidago, and aster, according to the brand. Andie Kanaras, Peoplemag, 3 Feb. 2024 This is the case for all plants in the sunflower family, including daisies, yarrow, goldenrod, asters, coreopsis, and bachelor's buttons. Deb Wiley, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Feb. 2024 The set contains 756 pieces that create an adorable array of faux flowers, including roses, daisies, and asters. Clara McMahon, Peoplemag, 7 Feb. 2024 Steamed sole scattered with sauteed chanterelles and enriched with a dilly butter sauce was further flattered by bright green and delicately crisp leaves of sea aster, a member of the daisy family whose flavor suggests raw oysters and seaweed. Tom Sietsema, Washington Post, 29 Dec. 2023 The set comes with 15 flowers to create, such as roses, snapdragons, poppies, asters, daisies, and more, and when you’re done, they can be placed in a vase without wilting. Amy Schulman, Peoplemag, 15 Dec. 2023 Named Asteria, to pay homage to the native North Carolina aster flower, the project is in the early stages with sales anticipated to begin by 2027. Carly Caramanna, Travel + Leisure, 15 Dec. 2023 Like Eupatorium maculatum [spotted joe-pye weed], Asclepias tuberosa [butterfly weed] and species of echinacea [coneflower], aster and eryngium [sea holly]. John Wogan Carmen Winant, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023

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 19 Mar. 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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