flare star

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. a dwarf star that exhibits sudden increases of magnitude similar to solar flares.

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flare star British  

noun

1. a red dwarf star in which outbursts, thought to be analogous to solar flares, occur, increasing the luminosity by several magnitudes in a few minutes

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flare star Scientific  

/ flâr /

1. A variable star that sporadically displays sudden increases in brightness, sometimes becoming six times as bright in a matter of only a few minutes, after which it gradually fades back to its normal brightness. The cause of this phenomenon is thought to be an event similar to a solar flare, but on a more intense scale with a much higher emission of x-rays.

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Etymology

Origin of flare star

First recorded in 1950–55

Example Sentences

It’s a type of red dwarf known as a flare star.

From The Verge • Aug. 25, 2016

Then there's Proxima itself: Known as a flare star, the red devil lashes huge flares of radiation out into space every few hours.

From Washington Post • Aug. 24, 2016