Definitions

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun astronomy The status of a planet (especially of a minor one, as opposed to an asteroid etc.)

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Despite Downgrade, Pluto Adds to Entourage might not be a planet anymore, according to the definition of planethood adopted by the International Astronomical Union in 2006, but the icy little orb on the edge of the solar system still has a lot going on.

    NYT > Home Page By DENNIS OVERBYE 2011

  • Astrophysicists stripped Pluto of full planethood.

    Carolyn Bucior: The Fabric of My Cosmos Carolyn Bucior 2012

  • And because Pluto is rather large, this definition won't confer planethood on every last iceball beyond Neptune.

    Ninth Rock From the Sun Ken Croswell 2010

  • It preserves the planethood Pluto has enjoyed since its discovery.

    Ninth Rock From the Sun Ken Croswell 2010

  • From a story in today's NYT on evolving definitions of planethood:

    Science Project 2010

  • An entire blog (laurele. livejournal.com) arose to restore Pluto's planethood.

    Ninth Rock From the Sun Ken Croswell 2010

  • Someone suggested that Pluto is reddening because of its recent demotion from full planethood.

    New Hubble Images Show Pluto is Changing | Universe Today 2010

  • (Given how upset people got when Pluto was demoted from planethood, I can't wait to see how they'll react to Mars's exile.)

    When Worlds Collide 2009

  • We are meant, first of all, to be citizens of earth with all the love and responsible behavior that is required to be a hologram of planethood, one of Earth's human brain cells thinking planet-thoughts.

    Delving Into "The Dark Side" 2009

  • Human multi-organism communities are to date not sophisticated enough to make the jump from nationhood to planethood.

    Current Evolutionary Leap 2009

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