pulsar
[ puhl-sahr ]
/ ˈpʌl sɑr /
noun
Astronomy.
one of several hundred known celestial objects, generally believed to be rapidly rotating neutron stars, that emit pulses of radiation, especially radio waves, with a high degree of regularity.
Origin of pulsar
1965–70;
puls(ating st)ar, on the model of
quasar
Words nearby pulsar
pulpwood,
pulpy,
pulpy nucleus,
pulque,
pulquería,
pulsar,
pulsate,
pulsatile,
pulsatilla,
pulsating star,
pulsation
Example sentences from the Web for pulsar
The first clue is the behavior of a pulsar—a tiny but massive object that rapidly rotates, sending flashes of light toward Earth.
British Dictionary definitions for pulsar
pulsar
/ (ˈpʌlˌsɑː) /
noun
any of a number of very small extremely dense objects first observed in 1967, which rotate very rapidly and emit very regular pulses of polarized radiation, esp radio waves. They are thought to be neutron stars formed following supernova explosions
Word Origin for pulsar
C20: from
puls (
ating st)
ar, on the model of
quasar
Scientific definitions for pulsar
pulsar
[ pŭl′sär′ ]
A rapidly spinning neutron star that emits radiation, usually radio waves, in narrow beams focused by the star's powerful magnetic field and streaming outward from its magnetic poles. Because the pulsar's magnetic poles do not align with the poles of its rotational axis, the beams of radiation sweep around like the beacon of a lighthouse and are thus observed on Earth as short, regular pulses, with periods anywhere between 1 millisecond and 4 seconds.
Cultural definitions for pulsar
pulsar
[ (pul-sahr) ]
A rapidly rotating neutron star. The radiation from such a star appears to come in a series of regular pulses (one per revolution), which explains the name.