Vesta

American  

[ves-tuh] / ˈvɛs tə /

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.

3. (lowercase) a short friction match with a wood or wax shank.

4. a female given name.

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Vesta ¹ British  

/ ˈvɛstə /

noun

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

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Vesta ² British  

/ ˈvɛstə /

noun

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

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vesta ³ British  

/ ˈvɛstə /

noun

1. a short friction match, usually of wood

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Vesta Scientific  

/ 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

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Vesta Cultural  

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.

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Etymology

Origin of Vesta

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