Vesta

[ ves-tuh ]

noun

1. Classical Mythology. the ancient Roman goddess of the hearth, worshiped in a temple containing an altar on which a sacred fire was kept burning by the vestal virgins: identified with the Greek Hestia.
2. Astronomy. the second largest and by far the brightest asteroid in our solar system, discovered in 1807 and located in the asteroid belt. Ceres ( def 2 ), Hygieia ( def 2 ), Pallas ( def 2 ).
3. (lowercase) British. a short friction match with a wood or wax shank.
4. a female given name.

Vesta

¹

/ ˈvɛstə /

noun

1. the Roman goddess of the hearth and its fire. In her temple a perpetual flame was tended by the vestal virgins Greek counterpartHestia

vesta

²

/ ˈvɛstə /

noun

1. a short friction match, usually of wood

Vesta

³

/ ˈvɛstə /

noun

1. the brightest of the four largest asteroids. Diameter: about 530 km (240 miles)

Vesta

/ vĕs′tə /

1. The brightest of all the asteroids and the fourth to be discovered, in 1807. It is the third largest, with a diameter of about 530 km (329 mi), and the only asteroid that can be seen without a telescope. Evidence of lava flows on its surface suggests that it once had a molten interior.
2. See more at asteroid

Vesta

1. The Roman and Greek goddess of the hearth and home. Roman and Greek cities were supposed to have a public hearth dedicated to Vesta, at which the fire was kept constantly burning.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Vesta¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin; possibly akin to Greek Hestía; possibly derivative of Latin ūrere “to burn”

Word History and Origins

Origin of Vesta¹

C19: named after the goddess; see Vesta ¹

Origin of Vesta²

C19: named after the goddess; see Vesta ¹

Example Sentences

A major advantage of this approach, according to Vestas, is that it uses widely available chemicals, though details haven't been disclosed.

From BBC

One of the investors in Modvion is renewable energy giant Vestas.

From BBC

One, Project Vesta, in 2022 spread an alkaline mineral called olivine on a Long Island beach to test whether that would result in more alkaline waters as waves wash the material out to sea.

From Science Magazine

The firm is also a part-owner in Vesta Terminals, which operates storage terminals that hold crude oil, petroleum products and other liquids, as well as a marine fuels company called Minerva Bunkering.

From Seattle Times

“Weird” hardly begins to describe the extraterrestrial life-forms the viewer encounters on the planet Vesta in “Scavengers Reign.”

From New York Times