clear the neighborhood
The phrase "clear the neighborhood" is crucial in determining a celestial body's classification as a planet according to the International Astronomical Union's 2006 definition.
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Definition
C1Astronomy
(technical, academic)To become the dominant gravitational force in an orbital zone, ensuring no other bodies of similar size remain in that area.
Example
- For a celestial body to be classified as a planet, it must clear the neighborhood around its orbit.
- Pluto was reclassified because it does not clear the neighborhood of its orbit.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "clear the neighborhood":
clear outclear awayclean outclear upclean downclear the decksclean upclean houseclean sweep