Bessel

American

[bes-uhl] / ˈbɛs əl /

noun

Friedrich Wilhelm 1784–1846, German astronomer.

Bessel British

/ ˈbɛsəl /

noun

Friedrich Wilhelm (ˈfriːdrɪç ˈvɪlhɛlm). 1784–1846, German astronomer and mathematician. He made the first authenticated measurement of a star's distance (1841) and systematized a series of mathematical functions used in physics

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

“Keeping Score” is inspired by Bessel van der Kolk’s book, “The Body Keeps the Score,” which details how trauma manifests in the body through illness.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 13, 2026

The psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, in his pioneering research on the effects of sustained trauma, showed patients the famous Rorschach inkblots test.

From Slate • Jul. 31, 2024

Quoting the neuropsychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk, she notes: “The body keeps score.”

From Washington Post • Jan. 25, 2023

“The Body Keeps the Score” by Bessel van der Kolk gives insights into how trauma impacts the physical self.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 17, 2021

Francis saw no reason to understate the power of the helical theory and within several minutes revealed the way Bessel functions gave neat answers.

From "Double Helix" by James D. Watson

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023