starburst

American  

[stahr-burst] / ˈstɑrˌbɜrst /

noun

• starbursts
  plural

1. a pattern of lines or rays radiating from a central point.

2. Astronomy. an intense and sudden episode of star formation in a galaxy.

3. Photography. a camera lens attachment that produces star shapes of reflected light.

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starburst British  

/ ˈstɑːˌbɜːst /

noun

1. a pattern of rays or lines radiating from a light source

2. photog a lens attachment which produces a starburst effect

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starburst Scientific  

/ stär′bûrst′ /

1. 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.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• starbursts
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of starburst

First recorded in 1830–40, for an earlier sense; 1950–55 starburst for def. 1; 1980–85 starburst for def. 2; 1965–70 starburst for def. 3; star ( def. ) + burst ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

starburst starbursts

Opera’s new season at Dorothy Chandler Pavilion later this month, it won’t feature the usual starburst pattern that has greeted fans for the last 63 years.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

According to the team, compact, dust-rich starburst galaxies undergoing rapid star formation could contribute a substantial share of the high-energy neutrino background.

From Science Daily ● Jun. 19, 2026

Touches of Midcentury Modern kitsch, especially a starburst clock on the restaurant’s roadside sign, marks its place along Route 66.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 12, 2026

"M82 has garnered a variety of observations over the years because it can be considered as the prototypical starburst galaxy," said Bolatto, lead author of the study.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2024

"And if there'd been pressure loss, there'd be a starburst pattern in the sand. I don't see anything like that."

From "The Martian" by Andy Weir

To her right stood Brandon Ross, whose searing yet disarmingly tender electric guitar tones built like waves, exploded like starbursts or sketched lines of staggering intricacy.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 4, 2026

It would also give astronomers new insights into starbursts and their effects.

From Science Magazine ● Jan. 8, 2024

AR use was at times visually busy: insects and starbursts appeared tangential to the action, and there were a few instances of slight judder.

From Seattle Times ● Jul. 26, 2023

Some even ultimately experienced elevated star formation rates: those formed via fuzzy dark matter displayed late-but-great starbursts, resulting in three to four times more stars than would be expected from cold dark matter.

From Scientific American ● Jun. 20, 2023

Those colors were scary, so she brushed them over with fuchsia starbursts and flowers with cobalt stems and a house nestled among gold-and-emerald-striped branches.

From "Ivy Aberdeen’s Letter to the World" by Ashley Herring Blake

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