the second-largest dwarf planet in the solar system, located in the Kuiper belt; discovered in 1930 by Clyde Tombaugh (1906–97); classified as a planet until 2006, when it was reclassified; it has five known satellites. Period of revolution around the sun: 248 years; period of axial rotation: 6.5 days; mass: 0.00218 times that of earth; diameter: 2300 km; Pluto has an elliptical orbit, its closest point to the sun is 29.7 AU and its farthest point away is 49.7 AU
verb(tr; sometimes not capital)
2.
to reduce (something) in status or importance
3.
to put an end to (something)
Word origin
Latin, from Greek Ploutōn, literally: the rich one
PLUTO in British English
(ˈpluːtəʊ)
noun
the code name of pipelines laid under the English Channel to supply fuel to the Allied forces landing in Normandy in 1944
Word origin
C20: from p(ipe)l(ine) u(nder) t(he) o(cean)
Pluto in American English
(ˈplutoʊ)
noun
1. Classical Mythology
the god ruling over the lower world
also called Hades by the Greeks and Dis or Orcus by the Romans
2.
the smallest planet of the solar system and the ninth in average distance from the sun: diameter, c. 2,270 km (c. 1,410 mi); period of revolution, c. 248.59 earth years; period of rotation (retrograde), 6.39 earth days; three satellites; symbol, ♇
Word origin
L < Gr Ploutōn < ploutos, wealth: see plutocracy
Examples of 'Pluto' in a sentence
Pluto
I was Pluto, the darkest, coldest, most distant of all worlds and the sun had found me.