noun
Pluto
PLOO-toh
noun
1
The Roman god of the underworld.
"In mythology, Pluto ruled the realm of the dead."
2
A dwarf planet in the outer solar system, once classified as the ninth planet.
"Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006."
verb
1
(informal) To demote or downgrade something in status.
"Critics joked the team had been plutoed to a lower division."
How to Use Pluto
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe mythological god, the dwarf planet, or (as slang) to demote something.
Common pairings
the planet Pluto
god of the underworld
Word Forms
plutoed past tense, plutos singular
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Etymology
From Latin "Plūtō", from Greek "Ploútōn", god of the underworld; the informal verb sense arose after the dwarf planet Pluto was demoted from full planet status in 2006.