What does the term “asteroid” mean?

The term “asteroid” originates from the Greek word 'asteroeides', which means "star-like." This name was given because early astronomers observed asteroids as small points of light in the sky, similar to stars, and they lacked the bright, celestial characteristics associated with planets.

Asteroids are not classified as stars but are rather small, rocky bodies that orbit within our solar system, primarily found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter. The confusion may arise because they can sometimes appear similar to stars when viewed from Earth, but in terms of definition, it explicitly links to their star-like appearance rather than their physical nature or classification in the broader context of celestial bodies or rocky masses.

The other choices relate to varying aspects of what an asteroid is or might be, yet they don't capture the etymological essence of the term as effectively as "star-like" does.