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

New England Aster New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) bears tons of pink, blue, purple, or white flowers that are gorgeous in a vase or in the garden. — Viveka Neveln, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Nov. 2026

Pollinator plants like milkweed, asters and coneflowers added to ornamental beds 3. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026

This time of year, goldenrod and aster species are holding onto their final blooms, but roses are a special treat. — Sheryl De Vore, Chicago Tribune, 28 Oct. 2026

Common aster varieties include New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) with purplish-pink flowers, and common goldenrods include tall goldenrod (Solidago gigantea) and Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis). — Karen Hugg, Washington Post, 11 Oct. 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