Asteroid

Pronunciation: /ˈæs.tər.ɔɪd/

Definitions of asteroid

noun a small rocky body orbiting the sun, typically found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter

Example Sentences

A1 An asteroid is a small rocky body that orbits the sun.

A2 Scientists study asteroids to learn more about the history of our solar system.

B1 Asteroids can vary in size from a few meters to hundreds of kilometers.

B2 Some asteroids have been known to come close to Earth's orbit, posing a potential threat.

C1 NASA is planning a mission to send a spacecraft to study a distant asteroid.

C2 The impact of an asteroid colliding with Earth could have catastrophic consequences.

Examples of asteroid in a Sentence

formal Scientists are studying the trajectory of an asteroid that is approaching Earth.

informal Did you hear about the asteroid that might pass by our planet?

slang That asteroid is gonna be a close call!

figurative Her anger was like a destructive asteroid, causing chaos wherever it landed.

Grammatical Forms of asteroid

• past tense: asteroided
• plural: asteroids
• comparative: more asteroid
• superlative: most asteroid
• present tense: asteroids
• future tense: will asteroid
• perfect tense: have asteroided
• continuous tense: is asteroiding
• singular: asteroid
• positive degree: asteroid
• infinitive: to asteroid
• gerund: asteroiding
• participle: asteroided

Origin and Evolution of asteroid

First Known Use: 1802 year

Language of Origin: Greek

Story behind the word: The word 'asteroid' comes from the Greek words 'aster' meaning star and 'eidos' meaning form or shape.

Evolution of the word: Originally used to describe star-like celestial bodies, the term 'asteroid' has come to refer specifically to small rocky bodies that orbit the sun in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.