globular cluster

noun

: any of various approximately spherical clusters of gravitationally associated stars that typically populate galactic halos

called also globular

Examples of globular cluster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The first hints of violence came when astronomers peering through the storied 200-inch telescope at Palomar Observatory (which Hubble was the first to use) found evidence in 1992 that the Milky Way was ripping apart some of the globular clusters in its halo. WIRED, 12 Nov. 2023 The Euclid telescope spied a globular cluster — a huge collection of hundreds of thousands of stars bound together by gravity — located approximately 7,800 light-years away from Earth. Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023 This is the second-closest globular cluster to Earth, about 7,800 light-years away. WIRED, 7 Nov. 2023 European Space Agency Astronomers have said that globular clusters are some of the oldest objects in the universe, and thus could offer insights into how their host galaxies formed and evolved. Denise Chow, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2023 The globular cluster Messier 14, or M14, is home to more than 150,000 stars. Julia Musto, Fox News, 21 Mar. 2023 Discovered in 1714 by Edmond Halley, and located a scant 25,000 light-years from Earth, this globular cluster of several hundred thousand stars is 100 times more densely packed than any stars near our own Sun. Michael D'estries, Treehugger, 30 June 2023 Phil Plait on globular clusters: There’s another kind of cluster called a globular cluster, and these are roughly spherical clusters of hundreds of thousands or even a million stars. Geek's Guide To The Galaxy, WIRED, 21 Apr. 2023 It might also be seen in dense globular clusters populated by thousands of black holes. Steve Nadis, Discover Magazine, 20 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'globular cluster.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of globular cluster was in 1785

Dictionary Entries Near globular cluster

Cite this Entry

“Globular cluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/globular%20cluster. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!