planet
[ plan-it ]
/ ˈplæn ɪt /
noun
Astronomy.
- Also called major planet. any of the eight large heavenly bodies revolving about the sun and shining by reflected light: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, or Neptune, in the order of their proximity to the sun. Until 2006, Pluto was classified as a planet ninth in order from the sun; it has been reclassified as a dwarf planet.
- a similar body revolving about a star other than the sun.
- (formerly) a celestial body moving in the sky, as distinguished from a fixed star, applied also to the sun and moon.
Astrology.
the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, or Pluto: considered sources of energy or consciousness in the interpretation of horoscopes.
Origin of planet
1250–1300; Middle English
planete (< Old French
planète) < Late Latin
planēta, planētēs (found only in plural
planētae) < Greek (
astéres)
planḗtai literally, wandering (stars)
Words nearby planet
planeload,
planer,
planer saw,
planer tree,
planeside,
planet,
planet gear,
planet wheel,
planet x,
planet zog,
planet-struck
Example sentences from the Web for planet
British Dictionary definitions for planet
planet
/ (ˈplænɪt) /
noun
Also called: major planet
any of the eight celestial bodies, Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune, that revolve around the sun in elliptical orbits and are illuminated by light from the sun
Also called: extrasolar planet
any other celestial body revolving around a star, illuminated by light from that star
astrology
any of the planets of the solar system, excluding the earth but including the sun and moon, each thought to rule one or sometimes two signs of the zodiac
See also house (def. 9)
Word Origin for planet
C12: via Old French from Late Latin
planēta, from Greek
planētēs wanderer, from
planaein to wander
Scientific definitions for planet
planet
[ plăn′ĭt ]
In the traditional model of solar systems, a celestial body larger than an asteroid or comet, illuminated by light from a star, such as the Sun, around which it revolves.
A celestial body that orbits the Sun, has sufficient mass to assume nearly a round shape, clears out dust and debris from the neighborhood around its orbit, and is not a satellite of another planet. The eight planets are Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. Pluto was considered to be a planet until its reclassification in 2006 as a dwarf planet. A planetlike body with more than about ten times the mass of Jupiter would be considered a brown dwarf rather than a planet. See also extrasolar planet inner planet outer planet.
Other words from planet
planetary adjectiveCultural definitions for planet
planet
An object in orbit around a star. A planet does not give off its own light; rather, it shines by reflecting sunlight. Planets close to the sun are rocky. Those farther out consist mostly of gases and liquids.
notes for planet
There are nine major planets, including the
Earth, in orbit around our sun, along with many
asteroids. (
See
solar system.)
notes for planet
Scientists have discovered evidence for the existence of many planets that circle other stars.