Pluto
/'plu:tou/
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Definition
- Proper noun:
- A dwarf planet in the Solar System: A celestial body orbiting the Sun, historically classified as the ninth planet but reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006 by the International Astronomical Union. It is located in the Kuiper belt.
- (Greek mythology) The god of the underworld: In classical mythology, the ruler of the underworld (Hades), brother of Zeus and Poseidon, and husband of Persephone.
- A fictional cartoon character: A yellow-orange, anthropomorphic dog created by Walt Disney, known as Mickey Mouse's pet.
Usage Examples
- Proper noun (Astronomy):
- Pluto has five known moons.
- The New Horizons spacecraft sent back detailed images of Pluto.
- Proper noun (Mythology):
- In the myth, Pluto abducted Persephone to be his queen.
- The Romans equated Pluto with the Greek god Hades.
- Proper noun (Fiction):
- Pluto is a loyal and playful companion to Mickey.
- The cartoon character Pluto first appeared in 1930.
Advanced Usage
- "to be demoted like Pluto": A modern idiom referring to something being downgraded or losing its former status.
- After the restructuring, that department was demoted like Pluto.
- "Plutonian" (adj): Pertaining to the planet Pluto or the god Pluto; often suggesting something cold, distant, or infernal.
- The spacecraft explored the Plutonian landscape.
- The poet described a Plutonian gloom.
Variants and Related Words
- Plutoid (n): A trans-Neptunian dwarf planet, a category that includes Pluto.
- Eris is another large plutoid in our solar system.
- Plutocracy (n): Government by the wealthy. (Etymologically related via the root "ploutos" meaning wealth, associated with the god Pluto's riches from the earth).
- The country was accused of being a plutocracy.
Synonyms
- (Mythology) Hades, Dis Pater: Other names for the god of the underworld.
- (Astronomy) Dwarf planet, Kuiper belt object (KBO), 134340 Pluto: Scientific designations.
Related Phrases
- "Pluto's orbit": Refers to the highly elliptical and tilted path of the dwarf planet around the Sun.
- Pluto's orbit sometimes brings it closer to the Sun than Neptune.
- "The Pluto debate": Refers to the ongoing discussion in astronomy and popular culture about its planetary status.
- The Pluto debate highlights how scientific definitions can change.
Related Idioms
- "Between here and Pluto": An exaggerated way of saying "very far away."
- I searched for my keys from here to Pluto, but I still can't find them.
Noun
- a small planet and the farthest known planet from the sun; it has the most elliptical orbit of all the planets
- Pluto was discovered by Clyde Tombaugh in 1930
- (Greek mythology) the god of the underworld in ancient mythology; brother of Zeus and husband of Persephone
- a cartoon character created by Walt Disney