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Saturn definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

SAT'URN, n. [L. saturnus.]
1. In mythology, one of the oldest and principal deities, the son of Coelus and Terra, (heaven and earth,) and the father of Jupiter. He answers to the Greek Chronus or Time.
2. In astronomy, one of the planets of the solar system, less in magnitude than Jupiter, but more remote from the sun. Its diameter is seventy nine thousand miles, is mean distance from the sun somewhat more than nine hundred millions of miles and its year, or periodical revolution round the sun, nearly twenty nine years and a half.
3. In the old chimistry, an appellation given to lead.
4. In heraldry, the black color in blazoning the arms of sovereign princes.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a giant planet that is surrounded by three planar concentric rings of ice particles; the 6th planet from the sun
2: (Roman mythology) god of agriculture and vegetation; counterpart of Greek Cronus; "Saturday is Saturn's Day"

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Latin Saturnus Date: before 12th century 1. a Roman god of agriculture and father by Ops of Jupiter 2. the planet sixth in order from the sun — see planet table

Britannica Concise

Any of a series of large two- and three-stage vehicles for launching spacecraft, developed by the U.S. beginning in 1958, and first fired in 1961. Saturn I, the first U.S. rocket specifically developed for spaceflight, was a two-stage vehicle that placed test versions of Apollo spacecraft into orbit and launched unmanned spacecraft. Saturn V was the largest rocket booster ever built by the U.S. and was used for the lunar missions of Apollo and to launch Skylab..Sixth planet from the sun, named after the Roman god of sowing and seed. The second-largest nonstellar object in the solar system after Jupiter, it is about 95 times as massive as earth and has more than 700 times its volume. Its outer layers are gaseous, mainly hydrogen. Models of its interior suggest a rocky core surrounded by a shallow layer of liquid metallic hydrogen encased by an envelope of molecular hydrogen. Saturn has at least 18 icy satellites (incl. Titan, the biggest) and an extensive ring system, with seven main sections visible from earth with a telescope. Saturn's rings, first observed in 1610 by Galileo, are made up of countless separate particles of all sizes, estimated to range from grains of fine dust to a small number of bodies possibly tens of miles across. Water ice observed on the surfaces of the particles probably constitutes most of the ring material. Saturn's day is about 10.5 hours; its year is 29.5 earth years. Its rapid rotation, acting on electric currents in the core, generates a strong magnetic field and large magnetosphere. Its gravity at the top of its atmosphere is 16% greater than earth's. Its average distance from the sun is 887 million mi (1,427 billion km)..Roman god of agriculture, equated with the Greek deity Cronus. His wife was Ops, the goddess of plenty, and his children included Juno, Neptune, and Ceres. His festival, Saturnalia (beginning Dec. 17), became the most popular Roman festival; its influence is still felt in the celebration of Christmas and the Western New Year. During Saturnalia, all business transactions were suspended, presents were exchanged, and slaves were given token freedom. The remains of Saturn's temple are located in the Forum in Rome. Saturday is named for Saturn.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 a the sixth planet from the sun, with a system of broad flat rings circling it, and the most distant of the five planets known in the ancient world. b Astrol. Saturn as a supposed astrological influence on those born under its sign, characterized by coldness and gloominess. 2 Alchemy the metal lead. Derivatives: Saturnian adj. Etymology: L Saturnus, Roman god of agriculture, identified with Kronos, father of Zeus, perh. f. Etruscan

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Saturn Sa"turn, n. [L. Saturnus, literally, the sower, fr. serere, satum, to sow. See Season.] 1. (Roman Myth.) One of the elder and principal deities, the son of C[oe]lus and Terra (Heaven and Earth), and the father of Jupiter. The corresponding Greek divinity was Kro`nos, later CHro`nos, Time. 2. (Astron.) One of the planets of the solar system, next in magnitude to Jupiter, but more remote from the sun. Its diameter is seventy thousand miles, its mean distance from the sun nearly eight hundred and eighty millions of miles, and its year, or periodical revolution round the sun, nearly twenty-nine years and a half. It is surrounded by a remarkable system of rings, and has eight satellites.