planète

/plaˈnɛt/
nounBeginner planet
general

A celestial body orbiting a star, typically large enough to be rounded by its own gravity and not a satellite of another body.

Mars est la quatrième planète du système solaire.

Mars is the fourth planet in the solar system.

💡

In astronomy, planets are distinct from stars and moons.

Collocations

planète habitablehabitable planetplanète nainedwarf planetplanète gazeusegas giant

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Phrases

planète bleuephrase
blue planet (often referring to Earth)
planète jumellephrase
twin planet (similar in size and composition)

💡Pro Tip

Astronomical vs. Common Usage

In astronomy, a planet must orbit a star and be large enough to be rounded by its own gravity. In everyday language, it often refers to any large celestial body.

Gold Rule

Capitalization

In French, 'planète' is lowercase unless it starts a sentence or is part of a proper noun (e.g., 'Planète Terre').

📖Word Origin

From Latin 'planeta', from Greek 'planētēs' (wanderer), referring to celestial bodies that appear to move across the sky.

📝Usage Notes

In everyday language, 'planète' refers to large celestial bodies like Earth or Mars. In astronomy, it has a more specific definition based on size and orbit.

Word Breakdown

plan-
flat, broad
root
+
-ète
wanderer
suffix
Dictionnaire Français-Anglais