ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Asteroid

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈæst(ə)ɹɔɪd/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Asteroid is a noun meaning (astronomy) In the Solar System, such a body that orbits within the orbit of Jupiter.

Meaning

(astronomy) In the Solar System, such a body that orbits within the orbit of Jupiter.

More Meanings

  1. (zoology) Any member of the taxonomic class Asteroidea; a starfish.
  2. (astronomy) A naturally occurring solid object, which is smaller than a planet and a dwarf planet, larger than a meteoroid and not a comet, that orbits a star and often has an irregular shape.

Example Sentences

The orbital planes of asteroids, minor bodies that circle the Sun mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter, are often more tilted .

Word Forms

Synonyms for asteroid

Depending on context, synonyms include angular, planetoid, angulate, star-shaped.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include angulate, angular, planetoid, star-shaped, hyalitis, meteor.

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Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.