aster

1 of 2

noun

as·​ter ˈa-stər 

1

a

: any of various chiefly fall-blooming leafy-stemmed composite herbs (Aster and closely related genera) with often showy heads containing disk flowers or both disk and ray flowers

b

: china aster

2

: a system of microtubules arranged radially about a centriole at either end of the mitotic or meiotic spindle

Illustration of aster

• aster 1a

-aster

2 of 2

noun suffix

: one that is inferior or not genuine

criticaster

Examples of aster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The footage merges in the middle and then morphs into video of other natural wonders from Monet’s garden — sunflowers, pink asters, golden marigolds and more, forming an ever-shifting landscape. —Solvej Schou, Los Angeles Times, 27 May 2026

Consider late-blooming native plants such as asters, goldenrod, ironweed, Joe Pye weed, and sneezeweed, as well as some non-natives including tall sedums, dahlias, toad lilies, zinnias, Bolivian verbena, reblooming roses and anise hyssop. —Beth Botts, Chicago Tribune, 23 May 2026

Blooms include black-eyed susan, aster, coneflower, and more. —Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 21 May 2026

For blooms at the heart of this trend, opt for coneflower, black-eyed Susan, bee balm, milkweed, goldenrod, and asters. —Cori Sears, The Spruce, 13 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

(sense 1) borrowed from New Latin, genus name, going back to Latin aster-, astēr "a plant, probably Aster amellus," borrowed from Greek aster-, astḗr "star, the plant Aster amellus"; (sense 2) borrowed from Greek aster-, astḗr "star" — more at star entry 1

Noun suffix

Middle English, from Latin, suffix denoting partial resemblance

First Known Use

Noun

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing aster

• aster yellows
• China aster

Rhymes for aster

• aster
• blaster
• caster
• castor
• faster
• gaster
• laster
• bandmaster
• broadcaster
• cadastre
• disaster
• forecaster

Kids Definition

aster

noun

as·​ter ˈas-tər 

: any of various mostly fall-blooming leafy-stemmed herbs related to the daisies usually with showy white, pink, purple, or yellow flower heads

Medical Definition

aster

noun

as·​ter ˈas-tər 

: a system of microtubules arranged in rays around a centriole at either end of the mitotic or meiotic spindle

The first stage in the formation of the mitotic spindle in a typical animal cell is the appearance of microtubules in a "sunburst" arrangement, or aster, around each centrosome during early prophase.

—Gerald Karp, Cell and Molecular Biology: Concepts and Experiments, 6th edition

called also cytaster