planet
PLA-niht
Planet (noun) means a large, roughly spherical body that orbits a star, has cleared its orbital path of other debris, and is not itself a star. Example: “Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system.”
noun
1
A large, roughly spherical body that orbits a star, has cleared its orbital path of other debris, and is not itself a star.
"Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system."
"Astronomers have found thousands of planets orbiting other stars."
"Mars is a cold, dry planet that is often called the red one."
2
Used with "the" or "this": the Earth, especially when talking about it as a whole, fragile system.
"Recycling is a small way to help protect the planet."
"The conference focused on the future of the planet."
"Many young people are worried about what will happen to the planet in the future."
How to use planet
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA large body in space that orbits a star; also used loosely to mean the Earth itself.
Common mistake
Pluto is no longer officially classed as a planet by astronomers (it's a "dwarf planet") because it hasn't cleared its orbit of other objects.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
distant planet
save the planet
planet Earth
the red planet
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Word forms
- Plural
- planets
Fill the gap
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Jupiter is the largest _____ in our solar system.
Etymology
From Greek planetes, "wanderer" — the ancient Greeks noticed that a handful of bright points in the sky moved against the fixed background of stars, so they called them "wandering stars."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
dwarf planet
Related words
Rhymes for planet
See all rhymes for planet →Frequently asked questions
What does “planet” mean?
The word “planet” means a large, roughly spherical body that orbits a star, has cleared its orbital path of other debris, and is not itself a star. In plain terms, a large body in space that orbits a star; also used loosely to mean the Earth itself.
How do you pronounce “planet”?
“Planet” is pronounced PLA-niht (/ˈplænət/ in IPA).
How do you use “planet” in a sentence?
Here is “planet” used in a sentence: “Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system.”
What is the opposite of “planet”?
The opposite of “planet” — its antonyms — is dwarf planet.
What part of speech is “planet”?
“Planet” is a noun.
Where does the word “planet” come from?
The word “planet” comes from Ancient Greek. From Greek planetes, "wanderer" — the ancient Greeks noticed that a handful of bright points in the sky moved against the fixed background of stars, so they called them "wandering stars.".
Is “planet” a common word?
“Planet” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “planet” have?
“Planet” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a large, roughly spherical body that orbits a star, has cleared its orbital path of other debris, and is not itself a star.
What is the difference between a planet and a star?
A star, like the Sun, produces its own light and heat through nuclear fusion in its core. A planet does not; it shines only by reflecting a star's light and orbits that star. Stars are far larger and hotter. In short, planets go around stars, and stars generate the energy planets depend on.
What is the difference between a planet and a dwarf planet?
Both orbit a star and are round, but a full planet has cleared its orbital path of other debris, while a dwarf planet has not — it shares its region with asteroids or other bodies. Pluto is the best-known example: it was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 for this reason.
How many planets are in our solar system?
Our solar system has eight planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. The four inner ones are small and rocky; the four outer ones are large gas or ice giants. Pluto was counted as a ninth until 2006, when it was reclassified as a dwarf planet.
What are the two main types of planets?
Planets fall broadly into two groups. Terrestrial, or rocky, planets like Earth and Mars have solid surfaces and are relatively small. Gas and ice giants like Jupiter and Neptune are much larger, made mostly of gases and liquids with no firm surface to stand on. Size and composition set the two apart.
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