English word planetoid comes from English planet, English -oid
| Dictionary entry | Language | Definition |
|---|---|---|
| planet | English (eng) | (astronomy) A body which orbits the Sun directly and is massive enough to be in hydrostatic equilibrium (effectively meaning a spheroid) and to dominate its orbit; specifically, the eight major bodies of Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune. (Pluto was considered a planet until 2006 and has now been reclassified as a dwarf planet.) [from 17thc.]. (now, [...] |
| -oid | English (eng) | Of similar form to, but not the same as. Having the likeness of. Forms adjectives and nouns. |
| planetoid | English (eng) | (astronomy) A dwarf planet. (astronomy) A larger, planetary, body in orbit around the Sun, such as Vesta or (candidate) dwarf planets such Eris or Sedna. (astronomy) An asteroid of any size. (astronomy) An asteroid-like body in an orbit beyond the asteroid belt, such as a centaur or Kuiper belt object. |