hypervelocity

noun

hy·​per·​ve·​loc·​i·​ty ˌhī-pər-və-ˈlä-sə-tē How to pronounce hypervelocity (audio)
-ˈlä-stē
: a high or relatively high velocity (such as thousands of feet or meters per second)

Examples of hypervelocity 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.
This speed suggests that the system’s star might be a hypervelocity star, an example of a rare class of stellar objects that have been sped up by past encounters with other stars—or even a gravitational slingshot from the supermassive black hole at the center of our galaxy. Jonathan O'Callaghan, Scientific American, 30 Oct. 2024 Following the hypervelocity experiments at NRL and subsequent algorithmic training of debris-scouting AIs, the researchers hope to spot as many as 100 small-scale collisions in space every day. Sharmila Kuthunur, Scientific American, 30 July 2024 These hypervelocity stars have an interesting history. The Physics Arxiv Blog, Discover Magazine, 23 June 2023 The first possibility is that the hypervelocity stars were ejected from a neighboring galaxy, such as the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 3 Oct. 2018 See all Example Sentences for hypervelocity 

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hypervelocity was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near hypervelocity

Cite this Entry

“Hypervelocity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hypervelocity. Accessed 25 Dec. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

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