noun
asteroid
AST-royd
noun
1
A rocky body, smaller than a planet, that orbits the sun, mostly found in the belt between Mars and Jupiter.
"Scientists are tracking an asteroid that will pass close to Earth next year."
"The spacecraft was sent to collect samples from a distant asteroid."
How to Use Asteroid
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA small rocky object in space that orbits the sun, too small to count as a planet.
Common mistake
An asteroid is rocky and stays mostly in orbit; a "comet" is icy and grows a tail near the sun; a "meteor" is the streak of light from a small object burning up in the atmosphere.
Common pairings
asteroid belt
asteroid impact
Word Forms
asteroids plural, asteroids plural
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Scientists are tracking an _____ that will pass close to Earth next year.
Etymology
Coined in 1802 by astronomer William Herschel from Greek asteroeidēs, "star-like," from astḗr ("star").