Words / B2

AST-uh-royd/ˈæstərɔɪd/

An asteroid is a small rocky body orbiting the Sun, mainly in the belt between Mars and Jupiter: an asteroid belt; asteroid impact. A planet is much larger (already in the dictionary); a comet is icy; a meteor is the streak in the atmosphere; a meteorite reaches the ground. Name the asteroid in the data table, then the diameter in kilometres. Mix-up: asteroid vs steroid; astronomy as the subject; do not write asteroid for a named planet.

Meaning

A small rocky body orbiting the Sun, mainly in the belt between Mars and Jupiter.

Examples

• “Name the asteroid in the data table, then the diameter in kilometres, the physics paper said.”
• “An asteroid impact featured in the extinction case, which is the collision sense — still name the crater if given.”

Good to know

an asteroid; the asteroid belt; an asteroid impact. Contrast: planet / comet / meteor / meteorite. Trap: steroid. Physics and geography. A small rocky body orbiting the Sun — quote km, not a film caption.

Near in meaning

minor planet, planetoid, rocky body

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