small solar system body

[ smawl soh-ler sis-tuhm bod-ee ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a celestial object that cannot be categorized as a planet, dwarf planet, or natural satellite: small solar system bodies include all comets and asteroids except asteroids, like Ceres, that are also dwarf planets. : SSSB

small solar system body

1. Any of various celestial bodies, such as asteroids and comets, that orbit the Sun and are not classified as either planets or dwarf planets.

Word History and Origins

Origin of small solar system body¹

First recorded in 2005–10