blueshift

or blue shift

[ bloo-shift ]
/ ˈbluˌʃɪft /

noun Astronomy.

a shift toward shorter wavelengths of the spectral lines of a celestial object, caused by the motion of the object toward the observer.

Origin of blueshift

First recorded in 1950–55; blue + shift

British Dictionary definitions for blue shift

blueshift
/ (ˈbluːˌʃɪft) /

noun

a shift in the spectral lines of a stellar spectrum towards the blue end of the visible region relative to the wavelengths of these lines in the terrestrial spectrum: a result of the Doppler effect caused by stars approaching the solar system Compare redshift

Scientific definitions for blue shift

blue shift

See under Doppler effect.