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planet definition

planet (planit)

noun

  1. Obsolete any of the celestial objects with apparent motion (as distinguished from the apparently still stars), including the sun, moon, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, or Saturn
  2. now, a large, opaque, nonluminous mass, usually with its own moons, that revolves about a star; esp., one of the sun's nine major planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, and Pluto
  3. Astrol. any celestial body thought of as influencing human lives

Etymology: ME planete < OFr < LL planeta < Gr planētēs, wanderer < planan, to lead astray, wander < IE base *plā-, flat, spread out > plain

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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