 | WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
| WordWeight : Weighing the Words |
Asterism
Pronunciation : As`ter*ism
Part of Speech : n.
Etymology : [Gr. ast?risme.]
Definition : 1. (Astron.) (a) A constellation. [Obs.] (b) A small cluster of stars.
2. (Printing) (a) An asterisk, or mark of reference. [R.] (b) Three asterisks placed in this manner, *, to direct attention to a particular passage.
3. (Crystallog.)
Defn: An optical property of some crystals which exhibit a star- shaped by reflected light, as star sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913
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