OXFORD 9000
📚 noun • entry_id 23988

asterism

/ˈas.təˌɹɪz.əm/
Meanings (ES + gloss)
asterismo • constelación
An unofficial constellation (small group of stars that forms a visible pattern).
Of the constellations, or asterisms. [...] It therefore became necessary to adopt a more general method of distinguishing them. This was accomplished by portioning out the heavens…
The Big Dipper, Summer Triangle, and Orion's Belt are asterisms.
asterismo
A rarely used typographical symbol of three asterisks arranged in a triangle, ⁂, used to call attention to a passage or to separate subchapters in a book. Distinct from a dinkus which also uses asterisks to separate.
asterismo
A star-shaped figure exhibited by some crystals by reflected light (as in a star sapphire) or by transmitted light (as in some mica).
Phrases
Word forms