/stahr"fish'/ , n. , pl. ( esp. collectively ) starfish , ( esp. referring to two or more kinds or species ) starfishes .
any echinoderm of the class Asteroidea, having the body radially arranged, usually in the form of a star, with five or more rays or arms radiating from a central disk; asteroid.
Also called sea star .
[ 1530-40; STAR + FISH ]