relativistic
Americanadjective
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of or relating to relativity or relativism.
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Physics.
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subject to the special or the general theory of relativity.
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(of a velocity) having a magnitude that is a significant fraction of the speed of light.
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(of a particle) having a relativistic velocity.
radiation from relativistic electrons.
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adjective
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physics having or involving a speed close to that of light so that the behaviour is described by the theory of relativity rather than by Newtonian mechanics
a relativistic electron
a relativistic velocity
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physics of, concerned with, or involving relativity
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of or relating to relativism
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of relativistic
First recorded in 1885–90; relativist + -ic
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.
Their picture shows the galaxy NGC 5128 and its relativistic jet - beams of radiation and particles travelling close to the speed of light.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2024
What allows the conservation of momentum are relativistic effects.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 20, 2023
"Black holes are extreme general relativistic objects that affect space-time around them," Kaaz said.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 20, 2023
On the other end of the spectrum, hot dark matter moves at relativistic speeds, rendering it incapable of gathering most anything.
From Scientific American ● Jun. 20, 2023
Such ships could not travel close enough to the speed of light for special relativistic time dilation to become important.
From "Cosmos" by Carl Sagan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
