blueshift

noun

blue·​shift ˈblü-ˈshift How to pronounce blueshift (audio)
: the displacement of the spectrum of an approaching celestial body toward shorter wavelengths
blueshifted adjective

Examples of blueshift in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Astronomers first studied faraway star surfaces by looking at the redshift or blueshift of light coming from the stars, a technique called Doppler imaging that reveals movement on the stars' surfaces. Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, 1 Feb. 2018

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blueshift was in 1933

Dictionary Entries Near blueshift

Cite this Entry

“Blueshift.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blueshift. Accessed 20 Dec. 2024.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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