planet
/ˈplæn.ɪt/ IELTSAcademic
noun
A planet is a large round body in space that moves around a star, such as the Sun. It does not make its own light.
- Earth is a planet.
- Mars is another planet.
- A planet orbits a star.
Adinary Nuance
A planet is not the same as a star: a planet does not produce its own light. It is also different from a moon, which orbits a planet instead of a star. In science writing, planet is the normal word for objects like Earth, Mars, and Jupiter.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- hành tinh
- Spanish
- planeta
- Chinese
- 行星
- Japanese
- 惑星
- Korean
- 행성
Etymology
Planet comes from Greek planētēs, meaning “wanderer.” Ancient observers noticed these objects moved differently from stars.
Common phrases
planet Earthdistant planetouter planetplanet orbit
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is a planet the same as a star?
- No. A planet moves around a star and does not make its own light.
- Is Earth a planet?
- Yes. Earth is one of the planets in our solar system.
- How do I use planet in a sentence?
- You can say, “Mars is a red planet.”
- Is planet a common word in academic English?
- Yes. It is very common in science, school, and academic writing.