asteroid

as-ter-oid · noun

imported

Definitions

noun

  1. 1.

    A small rocky body orbiting the sun, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.

  2. 2.

    (Zoology) A starfish or sea star.

Forms

plural: asteroids

Phrases & expressions

  • •
    asteroid belt — the region between Mars and Jupiter where most asteroids are found
  • •
    near-Earth asteroid — an asteroid whose orbit brings it close to Earth

Related words

See also: comet, meteor, planet
Synonyms: minor planet, planetoid

Etymology

From Greek asteroeides ("star-like"), from aster ("star") + -oeides ("resembling"). Coined by astronomer William Herschel in 1802.