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asteroid definition

as·ter·oid (as′tər o̵id′)

adjective

starlike; shaped like a star or starfish

Etymology: Gr asteroeidēs < astēr, star + eidēs, -oid

noun

  1. any of the thousands of small planets ranging from 1,000 km (621 mi) to less than one km (0.62 mi) in diameter, with orbits usually between those of Mars and Jupiter; minor planet; planetoid
  2. Zool. starfish

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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