See Also: planetary(medicine)
planetary(dictionary)
evolution, planetary(medicine)
planetary nebula(encyclopedia)

planetary (iou)



planetary adjective & noun. L16.
[from late Latin planetarius astrologer (use as noun of adjective = of a planet or planets), from planeta: see PLANET noun1, -ARY1.]
A. adjective.
Of or pertaining to a planet or planets; of the nature of or resembling a planet; having some characteristic quality of a planet. L16.
Sciences Mars became the major objective of NASA's planetary explorations. Esquire From far away she looks like a sprite..or maybe a planetary alien.
b. Astrology. Under or resulting from the supposed influence of a planet. E17.
fig. Wandering like a planet; erratic. E17.
J. Norris Such wandring, unprincipled, Planetary men as these.
Of or pertaining to the planet Earth; worldwide, terrestrial, mundane. M19.
Blackwood's Magazine The Latin language has a planetary importance; it belongs..to all lands.
Mechanics. Characterized by the circular motion of a part about a point outside itself; spec. (a) of, pertaining to, or involving epicyclic gearing; (b) designating a heavy rolling-mill in which a hot metal strip is forced between two large rolls, each surrounded by a number of smaller work rolls which rotate against the direction of feed; (c) designating a mixer or stirrer in which paddles are rotated about an axis which itself is moved in a circular path. E20.
Special collocations: planetary electron an electron bound to an atomic nucleus. planetary engineering modification of an extraterrestrial planet for human occupation. planetary gear (a) an epicyclic gear; (b) any gear-wheel whose axis revolves around another wheel. planetary hour (a) see HOUR 1; (b) Astrology any of twelve equal divisions of the period from sunrise to sunset, or from sunset to sunrise, each believed to be ruled by a planet. planetary nebula Astronomy an expanding shell of gaseous material surrounding a star. planetary precession: see PRECESSION 2a. planetary system a system comprising a star and its planets; the solar system. planetary year: see YEAR noun1.
b. noun.
An astrologer, a star-gazer. E17-E18.
A planetary body. E19.
A planetary nebula. E20.
A planetary gear or wheel (= planet-gear, planet-wheel s.v. PLANET noun1). M20.