dwarfs

Dwarfs, and the variant dwarves, are plural forms of the noun dwarf. The term is used across folklore, fantasy literature, and science to denote smallness or a class of small objects. The plural choice varies by context, with dwarfs common in scientific and general usage and dwarves frequently found in fantasy traditions.

In astronomy, dwarf planets are bodies of planetary mass that orbit a star but have not cleared their orbital neighborhood. Notable examples include Pluto, Eris, and Haumea. The designation was formalized by the International Astronomical Union in 2006 when Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet.

Dwarf stars include white dwarfs and red dwarfs. White dwarfs are dense remnants of sun-like stars, supported by electron degeneracy, and gradually cool over time. Red dwarfs are small, cool main-sequence stars that burn for trillions of years and are the most common stellar type in the Milky Way.

Dwarf galaxies are small, gravitationally bound galaxies. They are common companions of larger galaxies such as the Milky Way and Andromeda; they come in several varieties, including dwarf spheroidal and dwarf irregular, and are important for studies of dark matter and galaxy formation.

In variable star terminology, dwarf novae are a class of cataclysmic binary systems that show recurrent outbursts caused by accretion disk instabilities.

In folklore and modern fantasy, dwarfs or dwarves are short, stout beings known for craftsmanship, mining, and enduring loyalty. They feature in Norse myth, fairy tales, and works like J. R. R. Tolkien's writings, where the plural is often dwarves.