planetesimal

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noun

Any of many small, solid astronomical objects that orbit a star and form protoplanets through mutual gravitational attraction.

“a planetesimal body”

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Meanings

nounplanetesimal (plural planetesimals)

plural planetesimals

  1. astronomyAny of many small, solid astronomical objects that orbit a star and form protoplanets through mutual gravitational attraction.
adjectiveplanetesimal (not comparable)
  1. not comparableastronomyBeing or relating to one of these astronomical objects.

    a planetesimal body

Origin

Formed from planet by analogy with infinitesimal.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Finnish planetesimaali
  • planetesimaalia small, solid astronomical object
German Planetesimal
  • Planetesimala small, solid astronomical object
Polish planetozymal
  • planetozymala small, solid astronomical object
Portuguese planetesimal
  • planetesimala small, solid astronomical object
Russian планетезима́ль
  • планетезима́ль (planetɛzimálʹ)a small, solid astronomical object
Cite this entry
APA

planetesimal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/planetesimal

MLA

“planetesimal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/planetesimal. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “planetesimal,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/planetesimal.

Source: planetesimal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.