vesta

noun

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. Astronomy. the third largest and one of the four brightest asteroids.
3. (lowercase) British. a short friction match with a wood or wax shank.
4. a female given name.

noun

1. a short friction match, usually of wood

noun

1. the Roman goddess of the hearth and its fire. In her temple a perpetual flame was tended by the vestal virginsGreek counterpart: Hestia

noun

1. the brightest of the four largest asteroids. Diameter: about 530 km (240 miles)

1. The brightest of all the asteroids and the fourth to be discovered, in 1807. It is the third largest, with a diameter of about 530 km (329 mi), and the only asteroid that can be seen without a telescope. Evidence of lava flows on its surface suggests that it once had a molten interior. See more at asteroid.

The Roman and Greek goddess of the hearth and home. Roman and Greek cities were supposed to have a public hearth dedicated to Vesta, at which the fire was kept constantly burning.