Saturn
[ sat-ern ]
/ ˈsæt ərn /
noun
an ancient Roman god of agriculture, the consort of Ops, believed to have ruled the earth during an age of happiness and virtue, identified with the Greek god Cronus.
Astronomy.
the planet sixth in order from the sun, having an equatorial diameter of 74,600 miles (120,000 km), a mean distance from the sun of 886.7 million miles (1427 million km), a period of revolution of 29.46 years, and 21 known moons. It is the second largest planet in the solar system, encompassed by a series of thin, flat rings composed of small particles of ice.
Alchemy.
the metal lead.
a U.S. space-vehicle booster developing from 2 million to 9 million pounds (900,000 to 4 million kg) of thrust for launching satellites, probes, and spaceships.
Example sentences from the Web for saturn
British Dictionary definitions for saturn (1 of 2)
Saturn
1
/ (ˈsætɜːn) /
noun
the Roman god of agriculture and vegetation
Greek counterpart: Cronus
British Dictionary definitions for saturn (2 of 2)
Saturn
2
/ (ˈsætɜːn) /
noun
one of the giant planets, the sixth planet from the sun, around which revolve planar concentric rings (Saturn's rings) consisting of small frozen particles. The planet has 62 satellites. Mean distance from sun: 1425 million km; period of revolution around sun: 29.41 years; period of axial rotation: 10.23 hours; equatorial diameter and mass: 9.26 and 95.3 times that of the earth, respectively
See also Titan 2
a large US rocket used for launching various objects, such as a spaceprobe or an Apollo spacecraft, into space
the alchemical name for lead 2
Scientific definitions for saturn
Saturn
[ săt′ərn ]
The sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest, with a diameter about ten times that of Earth. Saturn is a gas giant that is almost as large as Jupiter in diameter but with only about 30 percent of Jupiter's mass. Its mainly gaseous composition together with its rapid axial rotation (it rotates once every 10.7 hours) cause a noticeable flattening at the poles and a prominent equatorial bulge. Saturn is encircled by a large, flat system of rings made up of rock fragments and tiny ice crystals, first observed by Galileo in 1610. The rings are believed to be unstable and therefore likely of recent origin; they may have been formed from bodies such as asteroids or moons that were shattered as they approached closer than the Roche limit. Saturn has numerous moons, of which the largest is Titan, the second largest moon in the solar system after Jupiter's Ganymede and larger than both Mercury and Pluto. See Table at solar system.
Cultural definitions for saturn (1 of 2)
Saturn
The Roman name for one of the Titans, the father of Zeus. In Roman mythology, Saturn fled from Mount Olympus after Zeus defeated the Titans. He settled in Italy and established a golden age, in which all people were equal and harvests were plentiful.
notes for Saturn
Saturday (“Saturn's day”) is named after Saturn.
Cultural definitions for saturn (2 of 2)
Saturn
In astronomy, the second-largest major planet, sixth from the sun. Saturn was named for the Roman god of agriculture. Like Jupiter, Saturn is composed largely of gases and liquids. Saturn is the most distant planet plainly visible to the naked eye. (See solar system; see under “Mythology and Folklore.”)
notes for Saturn
Saturn, often called the most beautiful planet, is known for the rings that encircle it.