white dwarf
noun
plural white dwarfs
: a small hot whitish star of low intrinsic brightness usually with a mass approximately equal to that of the sun but with a density many times larger
Examples of white dwarf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The white dwarf, called WD 0816-310, is an Earth-size remnant of a star that was once like our sun but larger.
—
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024
Would a civilization be able to survive around a white dwarf?
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Powerful winds blow the outer layers of these stars off until there is nothing left but a white dwarf.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 2 Aug. 2023
While the details can get a bit complicated, the white dwarf will essentially steal matter from the other star, says Howell.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024
That's why this latest discovery of a white dwarf is so intriguing.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 July 2023
In exoplanetary science, white dwarfs are usually only an afterthought.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Radiation from the white dwarf illuminates the nebula, and the different elements in the structure emit different colors.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Aug. 2023
The team observed the supernova colliding with material cast off by one or both stars in the binary system before the white dwarf star exploded; a shock wave was then sent into the pre-existing gas.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
Ashley Strickland, CNN, 26 Feb. 2024
Would a civilization be able to survive around a white dwarf?
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Powerful winds blow the outer layers of these stars off until there is nothing left but a white dwarf.
—Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 2 Aug. 2023
While the details can get a bit complicated, the white dwarf will essentially steal matter from the other star, says Howell.
—Joshua Rapp Learn, Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2024
That's why this latest discovery of a white dwarf is so intriguing.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 20 July 2023
In exoplanetary science, white dwarfs are usually only an afterthought.
—Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 22 Feb. 2024
Radiation from the white dwarf illuminates the nebula, and the different elements in the structure emit different colors.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Aug. 2023
The team observed the supernova colliding with material cast off by one or both stars in the binary system before the white dwarf star exploded; a shock wave was then sent into the pre-existing gas.
—Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'white dwarf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near white dwarf
Cite this Entry
“White dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/white%20dwarf. Accessed 23 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share