Plăn'et, n.

n. [Fr. planète, It. pianeta, Pr., Sp., Pg., & Lat. planeta, Gr. πλανήτης, and πλάνης, πλάνητος, a planet; properly, wandering, from πλανᾶσθαι, to wander.] (Astron.) A celestial body which revolves about the sun in an orbit of a moderate degree of eccentricity;—distinguished from a comet by the absence of a coma, and by having a less eccentric orbit. See SOLAR SYSTEM.

☞ The term planet was first used as one of distinction between the stars which preserve their places, or seem to do so, and those which have a sensible motion, and, as is now known, about the sun. Eng. Cyc.

Inferior and superior planets. See INFERIOR and SUPERIOR.—Primary and secondary planets. See PRIMARY and SECONDARY.