/ves"teuh/ , n.
1. the ancient Roman goddess of the hearth, worshiped in a temple containing an altar on which a sacred fire was kept burning by the vestal virgins: identified with the Greek Hestia.
2. Astron. the third largest and one of the four brightest asteroids.
3. ( l.c. ) Brit. a short friction match with a wood or wax shank.
4. a female given name.
[ 1350-1400; ME ]