planetary

[plan-i-ter-ee]

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.

noun

1. Machinery.,  a planetary gear train.

planetary

/ 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

noun

1. a train of planetary gears

Other Word Forms

• nonplanetary adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of planetary¹

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

Example Sentences

Each element provides information about a different stage in planetary development.

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"We discovered that deep faults can heal themselves within hours," said Amanda Thomas, professor of earth and planetary sciences at UC Davis and corresponding author on the paper.

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Scientists think that these changes have to do with the planetary waves.

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With further observations of many such star systems, astronomers are looking forward to understanding how energy flows during a planet-star meet and greet, how common these interactions are and how they change planetary atmospheres.

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"This work is a great example of how combining planetary science, geodynamics and mineral physics can help us solve some of Earth's oldest mysteries," said Jie Deng of Princeton University, a co-author of the study.

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Related Words

• global 
• terrestrial