Defn: A genus of perennial plants belonging to the natural order Liliaceæ, and having erect much branched stems, and very slender branchlets which are sometimes mistaken for leaves. Asparagus racemosus is a shrubby climbing plant with fragrant flowers. Specifically: The Asparagus officinalis, a species cultivated in gardens.
2. The young and tender shoots of A. officinalis, which form a valuable and well-known article of food.
Note: This word was formerly pronounced sparrowgrass; but this pronunciation is now confined exclusively to uneducated people. Asparagus beetle (Zoöl.), a small beetle (Crioceris asparagi) injurious to asparagus.
ASPARTIC
As*par"tic, a. (Chem.)
Defn: Pertaining to, or derived, asparagine; as, aspartic acid.
ASPECT As"pect, n. Etym: [L. aspectus, fr. aspicere, aspectum, to look at; ad + spicere, specere, to look, akin to E. spy.]
1. The act of looking; vision; gaze; glance. [R.] "The basilisk killeth by aspect." Bacon. His aspect was bent on the ground. Sir W. Scott.
2. Look, or particular appearance of the face; countenance; mien; air. "Serious in aspect." Dryden. [Craggs] with aspect open shall erect his head. Pope.
3. Appearance to the eye or the mind; look; view. "The aspect of affairs." Macaulay. The true aspect of a world lying in its rubbish. T. Burnet.
4. Position or situation with regard to seeing; that position which enables one to look in a particular direction; position in relation to the points of the compass; as, a house has a southern aspect, that is, a position which faces the south.