supergiant star

American  

noun

1. Astronomy. an exceptionally luminous star whose diameter is more than 100 times that of the sun, as Betelgeuse or Antares.

---

Etymology

Origin of supergiant star

First recorded in 1925–30

Example Sentences

This rare supernova, called 2023ufx, originated from the core collapse of a red supergiant star, exploded on the outskirts of a nearby dwarf galaxy.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

Even if you don’t know it by name, the red supergiant star Betelgeuse is one of the most familiar sights in the heavens above—a gleaming ruddy dot at the shoulder of the constellation Orion.

From Scientific American • May 15, 2023

The previous record-holder, Icarus, also a blue supergiant star spotted by Hubble, formed 9.4 billion years ago.

From Seattle Times • Mar. 30, 2022

“Still, more supernovae are expected to take place in the near future, like Antares, a red supergiant star near the edge of the bubble that could go any century now,” Dr. Alves said.

From New York Times • Jan. 20, 2022

The cool supergiant star Antares can be seen as a big, reddish patch in the lower-left part of the picture.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016