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red dwarf
noun
: a star having substantially lower surface temperature, intrinsic luminosity, mass, and size than the sun
Examples of red dwarf in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Gliese 12 b orbits a cool, red dwarf star and takes 12.8 days to complete an orbit.
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Anna Nordseth, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2024
The candidate stars are all red dwarfs, the most common type of star in our galaxy.
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Jacopo Prisco, CNN, 13 June 2024
The star, Proxima Centauri, is a tad nearer to Earth and is a red dwarf, the most common kind of star.
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Ann Finkbeiner, Scientific American, 22 Dec. 2016
Likely prevalent on Earth well before the advent of plant-type photosynthesis, such bacteria could be primed to thrive on planets that circle cooler red dwarf stars – the most common type in our galaxy.
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Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 22 Apr. 2024
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These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'red dwarf.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1926, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near red dwarf
Cite this Entry
“Red dwarf.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/red%20dwarf. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
Kids Definition
red dwarf
noun
: a star having much lower surface temperature, brightness, mass, and size than the sun
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