Aster is a word that is commonly used in the English language, but its meaning and origin may not be known to many. This article will explore the definition and meaning of aster, as well as its associations, synonyms, and antonyms.
Definitions
Aster is a noun that refers to a plant with small, star-shaped flowers. It is also used to describe the flower itself. In astronomy, aster is used to refer to a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern.
Origin
The word aster comes from the Greek word ‘aster’ which means star. It was first used in the English language in the mid-18th century.
Meaning in different dictionaries
According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, aster is defined as “any of various chiefly fall-blooming leafy-stemmed composite herbs (genus Aster) with often showy heads containing disk flowers or both disk and ray flowers”.
The Oxford English Dictionary defines aster as “a plant of the daisy family, typically bearing brightly coloured flowers with a yellow centre and slender petals”.
Associations
Aster is commonly associated with autumn, as many species of the plant bloom during this season. It is also associated with the idea of love and patience, as the flower is said to symbolize both of these qualities.
Synonyms
Synonyms for aster include starwort, Michaelmas daisy, and frost flower.
Antonyms
As aster is a specific word, there are no direct antonyms for it. However, antonyms for the idea of a star or star-shaped object could be darkness or obscurity.
The same root words
The root word of aster is ‘aster-‘, which means star. Other words that share this root include asteroid, astronomy, and disaster.
Example Sentences
- The garden was filled with colorful asters.
- The constellation Orion contains several bright asters.
- She gave her lover a bouquet of asters to show her patience and love.
- The asteroid narrowly missed Earth in its orbit.
- The astronomer spent hours studying the asters in the night sky.