The phrase "a planet around a nearby star" refers to an astronomical object that orbits a star other than our Sun. This term is commonly used in discussions about exoplanets, which are planets located outside of our solar system and orbiting another star. These celestial bodies can be detected through various methods such as observing the wobble of their host stars due to gravitational pull or by detecting changes in brightness caused by a planet passing in front of its star (known as transit method). The discovery of exoplanets has opened up new possibilities for understanding our universe and the potential for life beyond Earth.