quasi-planet

Definitions

a body comparable to a planet, but not a planet, such as a dwarf planet or a planetary-mass moon

Equivalents

Examples

“I am not so sure that in order⟳ to make⟳ a comet a quasi-planet, and as such to deck it out in the attributes of other planets, it is sufficient for Sarsi or his teacher to regard it as one and so name⟳ it. If heir opinions and their voices have⟳ the power of calling into existence the things they name⟳, then I beg⟳ them to do me the favor of naming a lot of the old hardware I have⟳ about my house, "gold." But, names aside, what attribute induced them to regard the comet as a quasi-planet for a time?”

“Titan, the largest satellite of Saturn, has a dense N₂–CH₄ atmosphere rich in organic compounds. ... This quasi planet appears as a natural laboratory to study⟳ chemical evolution toward organic systems in a planetary environment”

“the tidal theory assumes that the Earth was first a gas, then a liquid, and that the quasi-planet finally cooled enough to develop⟳ a solid crust.”

“the hotel exterior is ringed by a giant neon solar system. Mars, Venus, Mercury, Jupiter, Saturn, and that goofy little outer quasi-planet, Pluto, shine⟳ luminescent red, blue, green, pink, white, and yellow.”

“Pluto is the same guy in Roman myths. That's why the dark, distant quasi planet in our solar system bears his name⟳.”

“what might Pluto sound⟳ like⟳? ... we will have⟳ to wait⟳ a little longer until scientists can do the same with the littlest quasi-planet in our solar system, or the biggest rock in the Kuiper belt, however you choose⟳ to define⟳ it.”

CEFR level