asterism
- noun
- /ˈæstərɪzəm/
- Specialized
:
asterismo
- As sunlight passed through the crystal, a beautiful six-rayed asterism emerged, enhancing its beauty.
Examples
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The gemstone displayed a stunning asterism that captivated all who examined it.
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Gemologists often look for the asterism effect when evaluating the quality of certain gemstones.
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Figure 1 here does the same, showing this favorite asterism as it looks today, and as it appeared 50,000 years in the past and 50,000 and 100,000 years hence.
Academic text (1999)
Surface Forms
Morphology
asterism = aster (semi-transparent) = aster + ism
The word is built from the combining form 'aster-' meaning 'star' plus the noun-forming suffix '-ism'; the star-related sense is clear, but 'aster' as a form is not a common standalone word for learners and '-ism' does not regularly denote a physical star-shaped phenomenon.
Etymology
Asterism comes from the Greek root aster meaning 'star', the same root as asterisk, the small star sign. So, when light makes a six-ray 'star' on a sapphire or other gem, that bright star pattern is called an asterism.
