protostar
noun
pro·to·star
ˈprō-tō-ˌstär 
: a cloud of gas and dust in space believed to develop into a star
Examples of protostar in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Dense clumps within these clouds can collapse to form protostars.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
Other outflows are also seen in this image, including one from the protostar in the top of the image, with its illuminated cavity walls.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2023
The protostar itself sits in the rotating, dusty disk at the center of the image, where infrared radiation cannot escape because of the density of the dust and gas.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 14 Dec. 2023
As the material from the disk accretes onto the protostar, the protostar gets hotter.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2010
The nebula contains a shockingly large protostar that is, astronomers estimate, some 300 times larger than our Solar System and has a mass of 2,000 Suns.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 11 Jan. 2024
Their hearts hold the keys to understanding a range of stellar bodies, from fledgling protostars to zombie white dwarfs, because deep within them lies an invisible force that can shape a star’s destiny: the magnetic field.
—WIRED, 26 Nov. 2023
The bright patches and filaments mark areas with abundant numbers of protostars.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 23 Oct. 2023
The bright patches and filaments denote areas with large numbers of protostars.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Oct. 2023
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 15 Mar. 2024
Other outflows are also seen in this image, including one from the protostar in the top of the image, with its illuminated cavity walls.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 6 Dec. 2023
The protostar itself sits in the rotating, dusty disk at the center of the image, where infrared radiation cannot escape because of the density of the dust and gas.
—Lori Youmshajekian, Scientific American, 14 Dec. 2023
As the material from the disk accretes onto the protostar, the protostar gets hotter.
—Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 2 July 2010
The nebula contains a shockingly large protostar that is, astronomers estimate, some 300 times larger than our Solar System and has a mass of 2,000 Suns.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 11 Jan. 2024
Their hearts hold the keys to understanding a range of stellar bodies, from fledgling protostars to zombie white dwarfs, because deep within them lies an invisible force that can shape a star’s destiny: the magnetic field.
—WIRED, 26 Nov. 2023
The bright patches and filaments mark areas with abundant numbers of protostars.
—Eric Berger, Ars Technica, 23 Oct. 2023
The bright patches and filaments denote areas with large numbers of protostars.
—Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 11 Oct. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'protostar.' 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
1947, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near protostar
Cite this Entry
“Protostar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/protostar. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about protostar
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