As'ter-oid, n.

n. [Fr. astéroïde, Gr. ἀστεροειδής, star-like, starry, from ἀστήρ, star, and εἶδος, form.] (Astron.) One of the numerous small planets whose orbits are situated between those of Mars and Jupiter; — called also planetoids. [For their names and symbols, see p. 1255.]