starburst

American  

[stahr-burst] / ˈstɑrˌbɜrst /

noun

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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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. )

Example Sentences

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

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

From Los Angeles Times • May 12, 2026

Spectral data will help astronomers determine accurate ages for the star clusters and provide a sense of timing for how long each phase of star formation lasts in a starburst galaxy environment.

From Science Daily • Apr. 3, 2024

Fans and authors mingled in a brand new Science Fiction Museum, designed by the prestigious Zaha Hadid Architects in the shape of a huge steel starburst over a lake.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 28, 2024

The silver plate they gave her twinkled like a starburst in a galaxy of flashing cameras.

From "Stargirl" by Jerry Spinelli