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

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

Dictionary Entries Near Wolf-Rayet star

Cite this Entry

“Wolf-Rayet star.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Wolf-Rayet%20star. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!