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
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This hunch was borne out when the astronomers found that, even though the globular clusters were languishing in an empty stretch of Perseus, they were surrounded by a halo of glowing matter — a telltale sign of a galaxy. Frank Landymore, Futurism, 5 Mar. 2026 That larger halo could bring multiple globular clusters together, but could also not necessarily contain other reservoirs of gas or normal matter, being instead overwhelmingly dominated by dark matter. Big Think, 3 Mar. 2026 Searching for light in darkness To observe CDG-2, the researchers used data from three telescopes — Hubble, the European Space Agency’s Euclid space observatory and the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii — along with a novel approach that involved looking for objects called globular clusters. Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 3 Mar. 2026 By using globular clusters as cosmic breadcrumbs, researchers demonstrated that hidden galaxies may be far more common than previously detected. Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for globular cluster

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

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

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Cite this Entry

“Globular cluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/globular%20cluster. Accessed 11 Mar. 2026.

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