solar system
nounDefinition of solar system
: the sun together with the group of celestial bodies that are held by its attraction and revolve around it also : a similar system centered on another star
Examples of solar system in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In October 2017, astronomers operating the Pan-STARRS1 telescope in Maui found a bizarre cigar-shaped rock blazing its way through our solar system. — Brian Resnick, Vox, "Oumuamua is the only interstellar object we’ve ever seen in our solar system. What is it?," 6 Nov. 2018 When our solar system is discovered and attacked by an advanced civilization — not with a projectile, but with a device that transforms three-dimensional space into two dimensions. — Verge Staff, The Verge, "Smart scares for smart people," 31 Oct. 2018 This vivid, radiant star is the center of our solar system, and likewise, is the epicenter of our astrological chart. — Allure, "How the Sun's Position In Your Birth Chart Affects Your Zodiac Sign," 14 Aug. 2018 Our solar system has a spread of about 7 degrees, but new analyses suggest that this number is more dramatic than average. — Meghan Bartels, Space.com, "New NASA Planet Hunter May Find 10,000 Alien Worlds in Just Two Years," 8 Aug. 2018 Sadly, extraterrestrial life in our solar system could very likely be something way more primitive. — Jacek Krywko, Ars Technica, "To make Curiosity (et al) more curious, NASA and ESA smarten up AI in space," 16 July 2018 The notion has not only inspired countless works of science fiction, but also dreams of space exploration beyond our solar system. — Kevin Kelleher, Fortune, "We May Be All Alone in the Known Universe, a New Oxford Study Suggests," 27 June 2018 Kepler has been searching for planets outside our solar system for nearly a decade. — Marcia Dunn, The Seattle Times, "NASA’s Kepler Telescope almost out of fuel, forced to nap," 10 July 2018 Launched in 2009, Kepler has been searching for planets outside our solar system for nearly a decade. — Washington Post, "NASA’s Kepler Telescope almost out of fuel, forced to nap," 9 July 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'solar system.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Keep scrolling for more
Comments on solar system
What made you want to look up solar system? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Difficult Vocab Quiz
-
- Which is a synonym of discomfit?
Test your visual vocabulary with our 10-question challenge!
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
Share solar system
Resources for solar system