Definition

1. 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

1. 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
2. (Greek mythology) the god of the underworld in ancient mythology; brother of Zeus and husband of Persephone
3. a cartoon character created by Walt Disney