Asteroid \As"ter*oid\, n. [Gr. ? starlike, starry; 'asth`r star
+ e'i^dos form: cf. F. ast['e]ro["i]de. See {Aster}.]
A starlike body; esp. one of the numerous small planets whose
orbits lie between those of Mars and Jupiter; -- called also
{planetoids} and {minor planets}.
[1913 Webster]