Aster

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)
aster
    n 1: any of various chiefly fall-blooming herbs of the genus
         Aster with showy daisylike flowers
    2: star-shaped structure formed in the cytoplasm of a cell
       having fibers like rays that surround the centrosome during
       mitosis
from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48
Aster \As"ter\ ([a^]s"t[~e]r), n. [L. aster aster, star, Gr.
   'asth`r star. See {Star}.]
   1. (Bot.) A genus of herbs with compound white or bluish
      flowers; starwort; Michaelmas daisy.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Floriculture) A plant of the genus {Callistephus}. Many
      varieties (called {China asters}, {German asters}, etc.)
      are cultivated for their handsome compound flowers.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. (Biol.) A star-shaped figure of achromatic substance found
      chiefly in cells dividing by mitosis.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
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