Asterias \As*te"ri*as\, n. [NL., fr. Gr. ? starred, fr. 'asth`r star.]

(Zo["o]l.) A genus of echinoderms.

Note: Formerly the group of this name included nearly all starfishes and ophiurans. Now it is restricted to a genus including the commonest shore starfishes.

Source: Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913)