point source

American  

noun

Physics, Optics.

1. a source of radiation sufficiently distant compared to its length and width that it can be considered as a point.

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point source British  

noun

1. optics a source of light or other radiation that can be considered to have negligible dimensions

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Etymology

Origin of point source

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

"This is a new phenomenon, a point source that appears in a planetary system and then over 10 years or more slowly disappears," Kalas said.

From Science Daily • Jan. 7, 2026

The most common form of carbon capture technology involves capturing the gas from a point source like an industrial smokestack.

From Reuters • Nov. 22, 2023

They were also possibly from a single point source, such as a star, rather than a fuzzy galaxy, says Paulin, who will start graduate school at the University of Pennsylvania in the fall.

From Scientific American • Jul. 20, 2023

Steel Mon Valley Works spews health- and climate-harming pollution, propelling Allegheny County to the top 1 percent of all counties in the United States for urban and nonurban point source air toxics emissions.

From Washington Post • Feb. 3, 2023

"It's a point source, though, not an object at this range."

From Masters of Space by Berry, Robert Lee