planetesimal
adjEtymology Formed from planet by analogy with infinitesimal.
1
Astronomy, Natural sciences Being or relating to one of these astronomical objects.
- a planetesimal body
planetesimal
nounEtymology Formed from planet by analogy with infinitesimal.
1
Astronomy, Natural sciences Any of many small, solid astronomical objects that orbit a star and form protoplanets through mutual gravitational attraction.
- Derived terms
- exoplanetesimal, preplanetesimal, protoplanetesimal, satellitesimal
- Related terms
- protoplanet, planetoid, minor planet, dwarf planet, major planet, superplanet, planet, planemo, mesoplanet, asteroid