Asteroids are celestial bodies that are found in the solar system. They are also known as minor planets or planetoids. These objects are smaller than planets, but larger than meteoroids. They are made up of rock, metal, and other materials that are left over from the formation of the solar system.
Definitions
An asteroid is defined as a small, rocky object that orbits the sun. These objects are often irregularly shaped and can range in size from a few meters to hundreds of kilometers in diameter. They are primarily found in the asteroid belt, which is located between Mars and Jupiter.
Origin
Asteroids are believed to have formed from the same material that created the planets in the solar system. This material was left over from the formation of the sun and was pulled together by gravity to form larger objects. Over time, collisions and other forces caused these objects to break apart, creating the asteroids that we see today.
Meaning in different dictionaries
The meaning of asteroid varies slightly in different dictionaries. According to Merriam-Webster, an asteroid is “any of the small rocky celestial bodies found especially between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.” The Oxford English Dictionary defines an asteroid as “a minor planet, especially one of the larger ones in the asteroid belt.”
Associations
Asteroids are often associated with the asteroid belt, which is a region of the solar system between Mars and Jupiter where most of the asteroids are located. They are also associated with the extinction of the dinosaurs, as it is believed that an asteroid impact caused the mass extinction event.
Synonyms
Some synonyms for asteroid include minor planet, planetoid, and small celestial body.
Antonyms
There are no direct antonyms for asteroid, as it is a specific type of celestial body. However, antonyms for minor planet could include major planet or gas giant.
The same root words
The root word for asteroid is “aster,” which comes from the Greek word for “star.” This same root word is found in other words related to astronomy, such as astrophysics and asterism.
Example Sentences
- The asteroid belt contains thousands of small rocky objects.
- Scientists believe that an asteroid impact caused the extinction of the dinosaurs.
- The spacecraft was sent to study an asteroid that was passing near Earth.
- Asteroids are important objects to study because they can tell us about the formation of the solar system.
- Some asteroids are classified as near-Earth objects because their orbits bring them close to our planet.