blueshift

or blue shift

[ bloo-shift ]

noun

, Astronomy.

1. a shift toward shorter wavelengths of the spectral lines of a celestial object, caused by the motion of the object toward the observer.

blueshift

/ ˈbluːˌʃɪft /

noun

1. a shift in the spectral lines of a stellar spectrum towards the blue end of the visible region relative to the wavelengths of these lines in the terrestrial spectrum: a result of the Doppler effect caused by stars approaching the solar system Compare redshift

Word History and Origins

Origin of blueshift¹

First recorded in 1950–55; blue + shift