Uranus

[ yoor-uh-nuhs, yoo-rey- ]

noun

1. Astronomy. the planet seventh in order from the sun, having an equatorial diameter of 32,600 miles (56,460 km), a mean distance from the sun of 1,784 million miles (2,871 million km), a period of revolution of 84.07 years, and 15 moons.
2. Also Classical Mythology. the personification of Heaven and ruler of the world, son and husband of Gaia (Earth) and father of the Titans, who was castrated and dethroned by his youngest son, Cronus, at the instigation of Gaia.

Uranus

¹

/ jʊˈreɪnəs; ˈjʊrənəs /

noun

1. Greek myth the personification of the sky, who, as a god, ruled the universe and fathered the Titans and Cyclopes on his wife and mother Gaea (earth). He was overthrown by his son Cronus

Uranus

²

/ ˈjʊrənəs; jʊˈreɪnəs /

noun

1. one of the giant planets, the seventh planet from the sun, sometimes visible to the naked eye. It has 27 satellites, a ring system, and an axis of rotation almost lying in the plane of the orbit. Mean distance from sun: 2870 million km; period of revolution around sun: 84 years; period of axial rotation: 17.23 hours; diameter and mass: 4 and 14.5 times that of earth respectively

Uranus

/ yr′ə-nəs,y-rā′- /

1. The seventh planet from the Sun and the third largest, with a diameter about four times that of Earth. Though slightly larger than Nepture, Uranus is the least massive of the four gas giants and is the only one with no internal heat source. A cloud layer of frozen methane gives it a faint bluish-green color, and it is encircled by a thin system of 11 rings and 27 moons. Uranus's axis is tilted 98° from the vertical—the greatest such tilt in the solar system—with the result that its poles are in continuous darkness or continuous sunlight for nearly half of its 84-year orbital period.
2. See Table at solar system

Uranus

1. In astronomy , the seventh major planet from the sun , named for the Greek god of the sky. Uranus was the first planet discovered in modern times (1781). ( See solar system .)

Word History and Origins

Origin of Uranus¹

From Latin Ūranus, from Greek Ouranós; Uranus def 2 was first recorded in 1700–10, and Uranus def 1 in 1780–85

Word History and Origins

Origin of Uranus¹

C19: from Latin Ūranus , from Greek Ouranos heaven

Example Sentences

When Uranus next came close, Cronos reached out and viciously maimed Uranus, and blood gushed across the earth.

From Nautilus

She was careful to fashion Uranus as her equal, and then took him as her mate.

From Nautilus

Gaia’s love for Uranus was over, though they had 12 children in common plus any number of step-monsters and giants.

From Nautilus

At this point in the story, Uranus completely lost his mind.

From Nautilus

The sun is so massive it attracts planets from Mercury out to Uranus.

From Science News For Students

Related Words

• earth