plan‧et W3 /ˈplænət, ˈplænɪt/
noun [countable][
Date: 1100-1200;
Language: Old French;
Origin: planete, from Late Latin planeta, from Greek planes 'wanderer']
1. a very large round object in space that moves around the Sun or another star:
Mercury is the smallest of all the planets. Is there life on other planets? the future of planet Earth► Do not say ‘in a planet’. Say
on a planet.2. somebody is (living) on another planet/what planet is somebody on? spoken used humorously to say that someone’s ideas are not at all practical or sensible:
He thinks motherhood is glamorous – what planet is he on?3. the planet the world – used especially when talking about the environment:
a safer future for the planet—planetary adjective [only before noun]:
the planetary system [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲
planetnoun
BAD: I was born in a little planet in outer space.
GOOD: I was born on a little planet in outer space.
Usage Note:on a planet (NOT
in ): 'Is there life on other planets?'
[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Common Errors ▲
star a large ball of burning gas in space, which can be seen at night as a point of light in the sky:
The dark night sky was clear and full of stars.planet one of the large objects that goes around the sun, for example the Earth, Saturn, Mercury, or Mars:
The planet Uranus was discovered in 1781.sun the star that gives us light and heat, around which the planets move. There are also many millions of other suns in the universe:
The sun came out from behind a cloud. a dying sunmoon the round object that moves around the Earth every 28 days, or a similar object that goes around another planet:
The moon rose in the night sky. Titan is one of the moons of Saturn.asteroid a mass of rock that moves around the sun. Most
asteroids are found between Jupiter and Mars:
the asteroid beltpulsar a type of star that is far away in space and produces
radiation and
RADIO WAVESquasar an object like a star that is far away in space and shines extremely brightly
supernova a very large exploding star
constellation a group of stars that forms a particular pattern and has a name:
The constellation of Orion is one of the most easily recognizable patterns of stars in the night sky.galaxy one of the large groups of stars that make up the universe:
Astronomers have detected a galaxy 11 billion light years away.the universe all space, including all the stars and planets:
How many planets in the universe have life?celebrity someone who often appears in newspapers, on television etc and is well-known to the public.
Celebrities are often famous for being famous, not because they have any great
talent:
The magazine is full of gossip about celebrities.name a famous person whose name is known by many people – used especially in the following expressions:
All the big names in football were at the awards dinner. Giorgio Armani is one of the most famous names in fashion. He is yet to become a household name (=someone who everyone has heard of).personality an entertainer or sports player who is famous and often appears in the newspapers, on television etc. – used especially in the following phrases:
Many advertisers use TV personalities to promote their products. He was chosen as sports personality of the year.superstar an extremely famous performer, especially a musician or film actor:
The film made Tom Cruise an international superstar.legend someone who is famous and admired for being extremely good at doing something – used especially about people who are at the end of a long career or who have died:
blues legend John Lee Hooker Jane Fonda is the daughter of film legend Henry Fonda.great [usually plural] someone who was one of the best players or performers that there have ever been:
He was one of the all-time soccer greats. [TahlilGaran] English Thesaurus ▲