It's a bit of a tricky question because the definition of a dwarf planet is actually based on what it *isn't*. Here's the breakdown:

To be a dwarf planet, an object must:

1. Orbit the Sun: Just like regular planets, dwarf planets must orbit the Sun.

2. Have enough mass for its own gravity to pull it into a nearly round shape: This is where it gets interesting. Dwarf planets aren't perfectly round, but they're close enough that their own gravity makes them more spherical than other smaller objects like asteroids.

3. Not be a satellite: It can't be orbiting another planet.

4. Hasn't cleared its neighborhood: This is the key difference between a dwarf planet and a regular planet. A planet is considered to have "cleared its neighborhood" meaning that it's the dominant gravitational force in its orbital path. Dwarf planets share their orbital space with other objects of comparable size.

So, to answer your question, a dwarf planet has all the characteristics of a regular planet except for the fourth condition: it hasn't cleared its neighborhood.

Think of it like this:

* Regular Planets: Like the king or queen of their own kingdom, they have no other significant rivals in their territory.

* Dwarf Planets: More like the leader of a small town, they share their territory with others.

Examples of dwarf planets:

* Pluto

* Eris

* Ceres

* Makemake

* Haumea

It's important to remember that the classification of these celestial objects is constantly evolving as we learn more about them.