pulsar

noun

pul·​sar ˈpəl-ˌsär How to pronounce pulsar (audio)
: a celestial source of pulsating electromagnetic radiation (such as radio waves) characterized by a short relatively constant interval (such as .033 second) between pulses that is held to be a rotating neutron star

Examples of pulsar in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Christiansen presents and writes on topics ranging from reconciling her love for art and science to her quest to learn more about the pulsar chart on the cover of Joy Division's album Unknown Pleasures. Clara Moskowitz, Scientific American, 25 June 2024 The first sign of gravitational waves: binary pulsars Most people recall that the first direct detection of gravitational waves was announced in 2016: just eight years ago, or more than a full century after Einstein’s general relativity was first unleashed on the world. Big Think, 21 June 2024 How pulsars pulse Contrary to the section heading, pulsars don't actually pulse. John Timmer, Ars Technica, 5 June 2024 In 1967, Wheeler attended a discussion of the astrophysicist Jocelyn Bell’s recent discovery of pulsars—celestial objects that flash out radiation. Rivka Galchen, The New Yorker, 30 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pulsar 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pulsar.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

puls(ating) + -ar (in quasar)

Note: The coinage was apparently made by the astronomers Jocelyn Bell Burnell (born 1943 in Northern Ireland) and Antony Hewish (born 1924 in England), who discovered the objects in November, 1967. The Oxford English Dictionary, 3rd edition, cites the following from the Daily Telegraph (March 5, 1968, p. 21): "The name Pulsar (Pulsating Star) is likely to be given to it … Dr. A. Hewish … told me yesterday: '…I am sure that today every radio telescope is looking at the Pulsars.'" The word pulsar was not used in the first formal report of the discovery (A. Hewish, S.J. Bell, et al., "Observation of a Rapidly Pulsating Radio Source," Nature, vol. 217, February 24, 1968, pp. 709-13).

First Known Use

1968, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pulsar was in 1968

Dictionary Entries Near pulsar

Cite this Entry

“Pulsar.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pulsar. Accessed 4 Jul. 2024.

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