aster

Noun

WordNet 3.0

Noun (2)

  1. any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus Aster with showy daisylike flowers
  2. star-shaped structure formed in the cytoplasm of a cell having fibers like rays that surround the centrosome during mitosis
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Webster's Dictionary (GCIDE)

Aster \As"ter\ ([a^]s"t[~e]r), n. [L. aster aster, star, Gr. 'asth`r star. See Star.]

1.(Bot.) A genus of herbs with compound white or bluish flowers; starwort; Michaelmas daisy. [1913 Webster]

2.(Floriculture) A plant of the genus Callistephus. Many varieties (called China asters, German asters, etc.) are cultivated for their handsome compound flowers. [1913 Webster]

3.(Biol.) A star-shaped figure of achromatic substance found chiefly in cells dividing by mitosis. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

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