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red giant
noun
: a star that has low surface temperature and a diameter that is large relative to the sun
Examples of red giant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Scientists predict that in roughly 6 billion years, the Sun will run out of hydrogen and begin to die, transforming into a red giant.
—Christie Wilcox, science.org, 30 Sep. 2024
The nova, also referred to as a thermonuclear explosion, occurs when enough material from the red giant builds up in the white dwarf to power a bright outburst.
—Alexa Robles-Gil, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 Oct. 2024
That appears to be what happened some 4000 light-years away, allowing a planet similar in mass and orbital position to slide twice as far from its star, surviving the star’s expansion into a red giant and subsequent contraction into a white dwarf.
—Christie Wilcox, science.org, 30 Sep. 2024
The red giant and white dwarf have an explosive relationship.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 17 Oct. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
1929, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near red giant
Cite this Entry
“Red giant.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20giant. Accessed 24 Nov. 2024.
Kids Definition
red giant
noun
: a very large star with a relatively low surface temperature
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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for red giant
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