aster

(astər)

noun

  1. any of a large genus (Aster) of plants of the composite family, with purplish, blue, pink, or white daisylike flowers
  2. China aster
  3. a structure shaped like a star, formed during mitosis around the centrosome in the cytoplasm of a cell: not formed in seed plant cells

Origin: ModL < L < Gr astēr, star

star or starlike structure: diaster

Origin: < Gr astēr, star

a (specified) person or thing that is inferior or not genuine: poetaster

Origin: L dim. suffix

See aster in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun
  1. Any of various plants of the genus Aster in the composite family, having radiate flower heads with white, pink, or violet rays and a usually yellow disk.
  2. The China aster.
  3. Biology A star-shaped structure formed in the cytoplasm of a cell and having raylike fibers that surround the centrosome during mitosis.

Origin:

Origin: Latin astēr, a type of plant

Origin: , from Greek, star, type of daisy; see ster-3 in Indo-European roots

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