asterism

Meaning

1. An unofficial constellation (small group of stars that forms a visible pattern).
2. A rarely used typographical symbol of three asterisks arranged in a triangle, ⁂, used to call attention to a passage or to separate subchapters in a book. Distinct from a dinkus which also uses asterisks to separate.
3. A star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals by reflected light (as in a star sapphire) or by transmitted light (as in some mica).

Synonyms

constellation

Translations

astérisme

Asterismus

asterismo

asterismo

asterisme

αστερισμός

asterismo

ASTÉRISME

yıldız kümesi

Sterngruppe

effet d’étoile

groupe d’étoiles

مجموعة النّجوم

sidus

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈæs.təˌɹɪz.əm/

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀστερισμός (asterismós, “group of stars”), from ἀστήρ (astḗr, “star”). Analyzable as aster- + -ism.