Asterism

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Asterism \As`ter*ism\, n. [Gr. ?, fr. 'asth`r star; cf. F.
     ast['e]risme.]
     1. (Astron.)
        (a) A constellation. [Obs.]
        (b) A small cluster of stars.
            [1913 Webster]


  
     2. (Printing)
        (a) An asterisk, or mark of reference. [R.]
        (b) Three asterisks placed in this manner, [asterism], to
            direct attention to a particular passage.
            [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Crystallog.) An optical property of some crystals which
        exhibit a star-shaped by reflected light, as star
        sapphire, or by transmitted light, as some mica.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  asterism
       n 1: (mineralogy) a six-rayed star-shaped figure seen in some
            crystal structures under reflected or transmitted light
       2: (astronomy) a cluster of stars (or a small constellation)