Asterism

Pronunciation

• UK IPA: /ˈastəɹɪzÉ™m/

Origin

From Ancient Greek ἀστερισμός ("group of stars"), from ἀστήρ ("star").

Full definition of asterism

Noun

1. (constellation) A small group of stars that forms a visible pattern but is not an official constellation.The Big Dipper, Summer Triangle, and Orion's Belt are asterisms.
2. A rarely used typographical symbol (⁂, three asterisks arranged in a triangle), used to call attention to a passage or to separate subchapters in a book.
3. (mineralogy) A star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals by reflected light (as in a star sapphire) or by transmitted light (as in some mica).

Related terms

• aster
• asterisk
• asteroid

Anagrams

• smarties