planetary

American  

[plan-i-ter-ee] / ˈplæn ɪˌtɛr i /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or resembling a planet or the planets.

2. wandering; erratic.

3. terrestrial; global.

4. Machinery. noting or pertaining to an epicyclic gear train in which a sun gear is linked to one or more planet gears also engaging with an encircling ring gear.

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noun

1. Machinery. a planetary gear train.

planetary British  

/ ˈplænɪtərɪ, -trɪ /

adjective

1. of or relating to a planet

2. mundane; terrestrial

3. wandering or erratic

4. astrology under the influence of one of the planets

5. (of a gear, esp an epicyclic gear) having an axis that rotates around that of another gear

6. (of an electron) having an orbit around the nucleus of an atom

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noun

1. a train of planetary gears

Other Word Forms

• nonplanetary adjective

Etymology

Origin of planetary

From the Latin word planētārius, dating back to 1585–95. See planet, -ary

Example Sentences

The two events -- first seen in 2004 and again in 2023 -- represent the first time astronomers have directly imaged collisions between large objects in a planetary system beyond our own.

From Science Daily

New research led by Paul Byrne, an associate professor of Earth, environmental, and planetary sciences, challenges one of the central hopes surrounding Europa.

From Science Daily

In selecting Jayawardhana — an expert in the origins of planets and planetary systems — Caltech leaders said they sought someone with deep academic and administrative experience.

From Los Angeles Times

"By examining planetary evolution alongside atmospheric escape across different epochs, we can gain insight into how these processes shape planetary habitability."

From Science Daily

With a mass similar to Saturn, the researchers suggest that it most likely formed within a planetary system rather than developing on its own like a small star or brown dwarf.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• global
• terrestrial