starburst
[ stahr-burst ]
/ ˈstɑrˌbɜrst /
Save This Word!
noun
a pattern of lines or rays radiating from a central point.
Astronomy. an intense and sudden episode of star formation in a galaxy.
Photography. a camera lens attachment that produces star shapes of reflected light.
QUIZZES
QUIZ YOURSELF ON PARENTHESES AND BRACKETS APLENTY!
Set some time apart to test your bracket symbol knowledge, and see if you can keep your parentheses, squares, curlies, and angles all straight!
Question 1 of 7
Let’s start with some etymology: What are the origins of the typographical word “bracket”?
First appeared around 1750, and is related to the French word “braguette” for the name of codpiece armor.
First appeared in 1610, based on the French word “baguette” for the long loaf of bread.
First appeared in 1555, and is related to the French word “raquette” for a netted bat.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT Words nearby starburst
star, star anise, star apple, Stara Zagora, starboard, starburst, Star Carr, starch, Star Chamber, star chart, starch blocker
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for starburst
One possibility is that a wave of tens of thousands of stars popped into being and promptly blew up, behavior familiar from so-called starburst galaxies.
Galaxy-Size Bubbles Discovered Towering Over the Milky Way|Charlie Wood|January 6, 2021|Quanta MagazineThat ring is a hotspot for what’s known as starburst activity, which happens in regions where lots of baby stars are born.
When they encounter cops or rivals, the outriders will starburst, creating a diversion.
British Dictionary definitions for starburst
starburst
/ (ˈstɑːˌbɜːst) /
noun
a pattern of rays or lines radiating from a light source
photog a lens attachment which produces a starburst effect
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
Scientific definitions for starburst
starburst
[ stär′bûrst′ ]
The rapid formation of large numbers of new stars in a galaxy at a rate high enough to alter the structure of the galaxy significantly. Starburst galaxies, which are very luminous, form stars at rates that are between tens and hundreds of times faster than those of ordinary galaxies. Initial star formation is believed to be brought on by violent events such as collisions, or near collisions, with other galaxies, in which shockwaves cause the gases in the interstellar medium to collapse into protostars. The resulting stars are generally massive and short-lived. These stars become supernovae that create further shock waves, triggering yet more star formation.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.