Charon

[ kair-uhn, kar- ]

noun

1. Classical Mythology. the ferryman who conveyed the souls of the dead across the Styx.
2. (usually used ironically) any ferryman.
3. Astronomy. the natural satellite of Pluto, discovered in 1978.

Charon

¹

/ ˈkɛərən /

noun

1. the only known satellite of Pluto, discovered in 1978

Charon

²

/ ˈkɛərən /

noun

1. Greek myth the ferryman who brought the dead across the rivers Styx or Acheron to Hades

Charon

/ kâr′ən /

1. The largest of Pluto's three moons. Charon is just over half Pluto's size and orbits it so closely that it was not discovered as a distinct body until 1978. Although Pluto is covered with methane ice, Charon appears to be covered with water ice.

Charon

1. In classical mythology , the boatman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx and into Hades , the underworld.

Other Words From

• Cha·ro·ni·an [k, uh, -, roh, -nee-, uh, n], Cha·ron·ic [k, uh, -, ron, -ik], adjective

Example Sentences

Before New Horizons passed by Pluto, the team suspected the dwarf planet’s largest moon, Charon, might reflect enough light to illuminate the distant world’s surface.

From Science News

No one cared that it was the runt of the solar system, with a moon, Charon, half its size.

From Science News

Persephone would send a spacecraft armed with high-resolution cameras to orbit Pluto for three years and map its surface as well as that of its largest moon, Charon.

From MIT Technology Review

In particular, Pluto could be ringed: we know it has at least five moons, which, other than Charon, are tiny.

From The Daily Beast

Ordering a hand to the wheel, to keep her close after the Charon, I again traversed the deck to examine her forward.

From Project Gutenberg

Instead of at once proceeding on her voyage across the Atlantic, the old Charon was, we found, ordered to put into Cork harbour.

From Project Gutenberg

In preparing a body for burial, the Greeks took a piece of money and put it into the mouth, to give to the ferryman Charon.

From Project Gutenberg

No spirit is allowed to enter the leaky craft until he has first paid Charon the fee of a small coin called the obolus.

From Project Gutenberg

At the end of this time Charon grudgingly ferries them over the river free of charge.

From Project Gutenberg