name
Charon
KEH-uh-ron
name
1
In Greek mythology, the ferryman who carried the souls of the dead across the river Styx.
"The dead had to pay Charon a coin to cross into the underworld."
2
The largest moon of the dwarf planet Pluto.
"Charon is roughly half the diameter of Pluto itself."
How to Use Charon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe mythical ferryman of the dead, and the name of Pluto's largest moon.
Word Forms
Charons plural
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The dead had to pay _____ a coin to cross into the underworld.
Etymology
From Latin Charon, from Ancient Greek Kharon. The moon was named in 1978 by astronomer James Christy, partly after the mythological ferryman and partly after his wife Charlene, nicknamed "Char."