planet
pronunciation
How to pronounce planet in British English:
UK [ˈplænɪt]
How to pronounce planet in American English:
US [ˈplænɪt]
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- Noun:
- any of the celestial bodies (other than comets or satellites) that revolve around the sun in the solar system
- a person who follows or serves another
Word Origin
- planet
- planet: [12] A planet is etymologically a ‘wanderer’. The word comes via Old French planete and late Latin planēta from Greek planétos, a derivative of the verb planasthai ‘wander’. This was applied to any heavenly body that appeared to move or ‘wander’ across the skies among the fixed stars, which in ancient astronomy included the sun and moon as well as Mars, Venus, etc. The modern application to a ‘body that orbits the sun (or similar star)’ dates from the mid 17th century.
- planet (n.)
- late Old English planete, from Old French planete (Modern French planète), from Late Latin planeta, from Greek planetes, from (asteres) planetai "wandering (stars)," from planasthai "to wander," of unknown origin, possibly from PIE *pele- (2) "flat, to spread" on notion of "spread out." So called because they have apparent motion, unlike the "fixed" stars. Originally including also the moon and sun; modern scientific sense of "world that orbits a star" is from 1630s.
Example
- 1. That makes both planet hunting and moon hunting easier .
- 2. So what happened to the extra planet ?
- 3. Planet hunters are an ambitious lot .
- 4. But the planet of love shrouded in mystery .
- 5. Read about a recently discovered earthlike planet .