white dwarf

noun

Definition of white dwarfnext
as in neutron star

Related Words

Relevance

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of white dwarf However, some stars collapse to form a white dwarf composed of oxygen, neon and magnesium. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Sep. 2026 The white dwarf emits radiation and produces a giant gas bubble—the lion’s face—that destroys dust in its path. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for white dwarf
Recent Examples of Synonyms for white dwarf
  1. neutron star
  2. binary star
  3. red star
  4. variable star
  5. variable
  6. red dwarf
  7. brown dwarf
  8. red giant
Noun
  • The same happens with a newborn neutron star but on a much grander scale; some pulsars have been measured to spin in excess of 700 times per second.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Answering that question would allow astrophysicists to address other mysteries, such as the precise threshold where a neutron star will collapse to form a black hole.
    — Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of neutron star
Noun
  • The twinkling point of light to the moon's upper left is the binary star system Alpha Virginis, also known as Spica, which shines as the brightest point in the constellation Virgo.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Aug. 2026
  • The study has major implications for studying binary star systems as well.
    — Damien Pine, Scientific American, 21 July 2026
Definition of binary star
Noun
  • The Hollywood Historic Trust shared a photo of restoration progress on its social media, showing a blank red star set in an otherwise empty square.
    — Noe Padilla, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • The Soviet Union was an archetypal fragile superpower, its red star burning bright before its dramatic final implosion.
    — Ben Bland, semafor.com, 1 Sep. 2026
Definition of red star
Noun
  • In May, for example, astronomers suggested that a lunar-mass PBH might have been spotted drifting through the halo of our Milky Way, but follow-up work suggested the sighting was a variable star, not a black hole.
    — Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • This variable star is also located 250 light-years from Earth, but is sadly lost from view in the glare of the sun during the summer months.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 29 June 2026
Definition of variable star
Noun
  • Climate Central scientist Zachary Labe notes that forecasting the weather is complex and variable, which makes such predictions tricky.
    — Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 2 Oct. 2026
  • If a price may change because of materials, scope or another variable, say so early.
    — Levi King, Forbes.com, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of variable
Noun
  • Scientists have found that a distant world has a real rebellious streak, outwardly defying its red dwarf host star.
    — Robert Lea, Space.com, 22 Sep. 2026
  • Its host star is a dim bulb of a red dwarf about 49 light-years from our sun.
    — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of red dwarf
Noun
  • Such are the strange semantic questions raised by studies of CD-35 2722 B, a brown dwarf with about 30 times the mass of Jupiter that’s orbiting a small star that is some 73 light-years from Earth in the system CD-35 2722.
    — Adam Kovac, Scientific American, 22 July 2026
  • Instead Hoy and his colleagues used the radial velocity method to look for wobbles in the brown dwarf.
    — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 22 July 2026
Definition of brown dwarf
Noun
  • The 25-light-year-wide bubble is formed from stellar material cast off by WR 136 during its transformation into a red giant star, according to NASA.
    — Anthony Wood, Space.com, 8 Sep. 2026
  • It’s considered a red giant star, nearing the end of its stellar life.
    — Mike Lynch, Twin Cities, 5 July 2026
Definition of red giant

Browse Nearby Words

whited
white dwarf
white dwarfs
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“White dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/white%20dwarf. Accessed 5 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation
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!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

7 Great Ways to Say 'Great'

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
name tags
Words Named After People Quiz Find out who’s behind "leotard," "morphine," an...
See All