Wolf-Rayet star

noun

Wolf-Ra·​yet star
¦wu̇lfrīˈā-
: any of a class of stars whose spectra are characterized by very broad bright lines especially of helium, carbon, nitrogen, and sometimes hydrogen that indicate very hot unstable stars

Word History

Etymology

after Charles Wolf †1918 & Georges Rayet †1906 French astronomers

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Cite this Entry

“Wolf-Rayet star.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Wolf-Rayet%20star. Accessed 8 Nov. 2024.

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