əˈstärd.ē, aˈ- noun
Etymology: New Latin, from Latin Astarte, principal goddess of Tyre and Sidon (often identified with Aphrodite by the Greeks), from Greek Astartē, of Semitic origin; akin to Hebrew 'Ashtōreth, Phoenician and Canaanite goddess
1. capitalized : a genus (the type of the family Astartidae) comprising marine bivalve mollusks (order Eulamellibranchia) with thick equal-valved shells often concentrically ridged and with well-developed hinge teeth
2. -s : any member of the genus Astarte