pluto
UK /ˈpluːtəʊ/ · US /ˈplutoʊ/ verb, proper noun
Forms plutos plutoing plutoed
- verb (neologism) To demote or devalue something.
- proper noun (Greek mythology, Roman mythology) The Greco-Roman god of the underworld.
- proper noun (astronomy) The largest dwarf planet and formerly the ninth planet, represented by the symbol ♇ or ⯓, both now used mostly in astrology.
- proper noun (film, art) The American cartoon character created by Walt Disney and Norm Ferguson.
Synonyms
Plouton mul:♇ mul:⯓ Planet X (134340) Pluto 134340 Pluto ⯕ ⯔ ⯖ Hades Aides Aidoneus
Etymology
Originally coined in 2006 by the American Dialect Society, in reference to Pluto's demotion from planet status, defeating climate canary for Word of the Year.
From Middle English Pluto, Pluton, from Latin Plūtō, from Ancient Greek Πλούτων (Ploútōn, “god of the underworld”). Doublet of Plouton. Venetia Burney is often credited as having suggested the name for the celestial body.
Webster’s 1913
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “pluto”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details