Huygens

or Huy·ghens

[ hahy-guhnz, hoi-; Dutch hoi-gens ]

noun

1. Chris·tian [kris, -ch, uh, n, kris, -tee-ahn], 1629–95, Dutch mathematician, physicist, and astronomer.

Huygens

/ ˈhaɪɡənz; ˈhœixəns /

noun

1. HuygensChristiaan16291695MDutchSCIENCE: physicist Christiaan (ˈkristiːˌaːn). 1629–95, Dutch physicist: first formulated the wave theory of light

Huygens

/ hī′gənz,hoi′gĕns /

1. Dutch physicist and astronomer who in 1655 discovered Saturn's rings and its fourth satellite, using a telescope he constructed with his brother. In 1657 he built the first pendulum clock. Huygens also proposed that light consists of transverse waves that vibrate up and down perpendicular to the direction in which the light travels. This theory, which explained some properties of light better than Newton's theory, was made public in 1690.

Example Sentences

For that matter, Huygens believed much hotter Mercury to be populated as well, and that the Mercurians would no doubt consider Earth much too cold and dark to support life.

From Science News

That mission included the Huygens lander, which delivered observations from the atmosphere and surface of Titan before going offline just 90 minutes after touchdown.

From MIT Technology Review

The attention of the world thus once awakened, Huygens and Cassini applied themselves to ascertain the figure of the earth.

From Project Gutenberg

His father, Christiaan Huygens, was secretary to the state council, and a man of great political importance.

From Project Gutenberg

It is a disgrace to Dutch scholarship that no complete collection of the writings of Huygens exists.

From Project Gutenberg

Huygens is the grand seigneur of the republic, the type of aristocratic oligarchy, the jewel and ornament of Dutch liberty.

From Project Gutenberg

Constantijn Huygens is the most brilliant figure in Dutch literary history.

From Project Gutenberg