minor planet

noun
UK: /ˈmaɪnə ˈplænɪt/
US: /ˈmaɪnər ˈplænɪt/

  1. A celestial body that orbits the sun but is neither a major planet nor a comet.

    1. A minor planet is smaller than Earth.
    2. Scientists discovered a new minor planet in our solar system that may provide further insights into its formation.

Synonyms

asteroid planetoid
minor planet adjective

  1. Relating to or characteristic of a minor planet.

    1. The minor planet research is very exciting.
    2. This new telescope allows us to gather more precise minor planet data about their composition and orbit.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "minor planet" is /ˈmaɪnə ˈplænɪt/ in British English and /ˈmaɪnər ˈplænɪt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "minor planet": asteroid, planetoid.

Example usage of "minor planet": "A minor planet is smaller than Earth.". More examples on the page.