asteroid,a.andn.|ˈæstərɔɪd|[ad.Gr.ἀστεροειδής star-like,f.ἀστήρ star: see -oid.]A.adj.1.Star-shaped, star-like.1854DallasAnim.Kingd.(1856) 52The asteroid polypes are all compound animals.
1880WallaceIsl. Life xiv. 296The woody Asteroid forms.
2.Zool.Of, belonging to, or characteristic of the Asteroidea.1888Rolleston & JacksonAnim.Life 5The Asteroid larva closely resembles the Holothurioid.
1900F. A. Batheret al. Echinoderma 3No sharp line can be drawn between Asteroid and Ophiuroid structure.
B.n.1.Name given to the numerous minute planetary bodies revolving round the sun between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter; called also planetoids and minor planets.1802Herschel inPhil.Trans.XCII. 228From this, their asteroidical appearance, if I may use that expression..I shall take my name, and call them Asteroids.
1875ProctorExp. Heaven 114Not a year passes without the recognition of two or three and sometimes ten or twelve..asteroids.
†2.A meteor. Obs.1830Goodrich (P. Parley)Sun Moon and Stars lvii. (1837) 296By the term ‘November Asteroïds’ it is the shooting or falling stars that are spoken of.
1849M. SomervilleConnex.Phys.Sc.xxxvii. 447They[the meteorites]are asteroids revolving about the sun.
3.Hence applied to a kind of fire-work.1875Times 4 Nov. 1/6 (Advt.)Rockets with pearl stars..Asteroids changing colours while sailing through the air.
4.Zool.A star-fish of the class Asteroidea.1841E. ForbesBrit.Starfishes i. 3The Crinoids as analogues of the Polypes are lower than the Asteroids.
1888Rolleston & JacksonAnim.Life 563The apical system of plates is well defined in the young Asteroid.
1900F. A. Batheret al. Echinoderma 14The Asteroids were probably the last group to branch off from the fixed Echinoderms.
1921Chamber'sJrnl.XI. 502/1The mauve of these beautiful asteroids blends perfectly with the soft gray sands of the North Pacific.
