noun
planet
PLAN-it/ˈplænɪt/
A large roughly round body that orbits a star without producing its own light.
A large ringed planet travels around a distant star.
Etymology
Planets were named as “wandering stars” because they appeared to move against the fixed stars. That observational category later became the scientific category of worlds orbiting a star.
In context
mass of a star or planet changes, or any other celestial body whizzes past that planet, it would disturb this delicate balance of mass, velocity, and distance that keeps a planet in a circular orbit
More examples
- Earth is the third planet from the sun.
- Planets shine by reflecting light from their stars.
- Reducing waste helps protect our planet.
Forms
planet · planets
planetary adjective — Relating to planets or their motion.
Similar words
- world
- Emphasizes a planet as a place, sometimes with life.
- exoplanet
- Specifically names a planet outside our solar system.