any of numerous small celestial bodies that move around the sun mainly between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter. Their diameters range from 930 kilometres (Ceres) to less than one kilometre
2. Also called: asteroidean(ˌæstəˈrɔɪdɪən)
any echinoderm of the class Asteroidea; a starfish
adjective also: asteroidal(ˌæstəˈrɔɪdəl)
3.
of, relating to, or belonging to the class Asteroidea
4.
shaped like a star
Word origin
C19: from Greek asteroeidēs starlike, from astēr a star