dwarf planet

dwarf planet (plural dwarf planets)

1. (astronomy) A world-like planetoid of the Solar system, that is smaller than the classical planets. More specifically, any astronomical body which has a geology defined by hydrostatic equilibrium (and thus has taken the shape a body of water would take, as opposed to a small Solar System body), orbits the Sun (as opposed to a moon), and does not gravitationally dominate other bodies near its orbit (as opposed to a classical planet or, in IAU usage, as opposed to a planet).

   Synonyms: planetoid, quasi-planet, sub-planet

   Hypernyms: minor planet, planet, planetary-mass object

   Hyponyms: ice dwarf, plutoid

   • 2010, BioWare, Mass Effect 2 (Science Fiction), Redwood City: Electronic Arts, OCLC 865290061, PC, scene: Bres:

     A member of the Fomor Belt, Bres is a dwarf planet with no atmosphere.

• double dwarf planet
• (Inner Solar System): Ceres
• (Outer Solar System): Eris, Pluto, possibly also Haumea, Makemake, Gonggong, Quaoar, Orcus, Salacia, Sedna

• major planet
• planetary object
• satellite planet

• (most likely dwarf planets of the Solar System) Ceres, Orcus, Pluto, Haumea, Quaoar, Makemake, Gonggong, Eris, Sedna
• planetesimal

• dwarf planet on Wikipedia.Wikipedia