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brown dwarf
noun
: a celestial object that is much smaller than a normal star and has insufficient mass to sustain nuclear fusion but that is hot enough to radiate energy especially at infrared wavelengths
Examples of brown dwarf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Three teams have identified a dozen or so brown dwarfs between three and eight Jupiter masses—and no smaller.
—Byadam Mann, science.org, 6 Nov. 2024
As expected with these diminutive masses, brown dwarfs are rarely found in binaries.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 24 Dec. 2024
But the other system isn’t a perfect mirror of our Solar System—a brown dwarf also orbiting the star may have played a part in the Earth-like planet’s survival, experts tell The New York Times.
—Christie Wilcox, science.org, 30 Sep. 2024
Some theories say brown dwarf pairs were seeded from the materials that surround a forming star.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1975, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near brown dwarf
Cite this Entry
“Brown dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/brown%20dwarf. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
brown dwarf
noun
: an object in space that is much smaller and dimmer than a normal star
More from Merriam-Webster on brown dwarf
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for brown dwarf
Nglish: Translation of brown dwarf for Spanish Speakers
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about brown dwarf
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