aster

¹ American  

[as-ter] / ˈæs tər /

noun

1. any composite plant of the genus Aster, having rays varying from white or pink to blue around a yellow disk.

2. a plant of some allied genus, as the China aster.

3. Cell Biology. a structure formed in a cell during mitosis, composed of astral rays radiating about the centrosome.

4. Furniture. sunflower.

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-aster ² American  

1. a diminutive or pejorative suffix denoting something that imperfectly resembles or mimics the true thing.

   criticaster; poetaster, oleaster.

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-aster ³ American  

1. Chiefly Biology. a combining form with the meaning “star,” used in the formation of compound words.

   diaster.

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aster ¹ British  

/ ˈæstə /

noun

1. any plant of the genus Aster, having white, blue, purple, or pink daisy-like flowers: family Asteraceae (composites) Compare golden aster

2. a related Chinese plant, Callistephus chinensis, widely cultivated for its showy brightly coloured flowers

3. cytology a group of radiating microtubules that surrounds the centrosome before and during mitosis

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-aster ² British  

suffix

1. a person or thing that is inferior or bears only a poor resemblance to what is specified

   poetaster

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Usage

What is an aster? An aster is a flower with a white, pink, blue, or purple petals around a yellow middle.The name aster can be used for any plant in the genus Aster. Asters are similar to daisies and are in the same family. They are sometimes called Michaelmas daisies.Species of asters commonly planted in gardens include those known as the New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) and the New York aster (Symphyotrichum novi-belgii). Some varieties of asters are used as cut flowers by florists.The aster is one of the September birth flowers (a flower that’s associated with a particular month in the same way as a birthstone).Example: We planted asters around the grass in the garden.

What does -aster mean? The combining form -aster is used like a suffix that has two distinct senses.The first of these senses is to denote something that imperfectly resembles or mimics the true thing, typically as a pejorative (negative) or diminutive (implying something is small). This form of -aster is occasionally used in a variety of everyday and technical terms. The form -aster comes from Latin -aster, which indicates a partial resemblance to something and may be pejorative depending on context.The second of these senses is “star,” and this form of -aster is occasionally used in a variety of scientific terms, particularly in biology. This form of -aster comes from Greek astḗr, meaning "star." The Latin cognate of astḗr is stella, also meaning “star,” which can be found in words such as stellar and stelliferous. Check out our entries for both words to learn more.What are variants of -aster with the sense “star”?While not a variant of -aster, the combining form astro- has a similar meaning: "related to stars." Learn more about the form astro- at our Words That Use article for the term.

Etymology

Origin of aster¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin, from Greek astḗr “star”; star

Origin of -aster²

From Latin

Origin of -aster³

< Greek astḗr star; astro-

Example Sentences

Head to higher elevations above 2,000 feet where there is more moisture to see slopes brightened with desert lily, sand verbena and flowering Orcutt’s woody aster.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 17, 2026

At a gated agricultural plot on the Penn State Berks Campus, pollinators hum to and fro through rolling fields of aster and goldenrod.

From National Geographic • Aug. 31, 2023

Some too-energetic edits from the formal areas, including the Silphium and Tatarian aster, are also finding homes in the nearly wild garden.

From Seattle Times • Nov. 10, 2022

The scientists next grew the aster near some sprightly rye seedlings.

From New York Times • Aug. 1, 2022

I squat, listening behind me for bears, aster leaves rough on the tops of my legs, then bury the toilet paper under sticks and bark and dried bracken.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood