# hydrogen burning

idiom

Source: https://englishreference.com/idiom/hydrogen-burning
Updated: 2026-08-10

## Meaning

The nucleosynthesis process, in stars of less than 1.2 solar mass, in which hydrogen is converted to helium, deuterium and some lithium.

## Examples

- Stars produce energy through hydrogen burning.
- During the main sequence phase of a star's life, hydrogen burning converts fuel into helium to maintain stability.
- The internal temperature of the stellar core must reach millions of degrees for hydrogen burning to initiate the fusion process that powers the star.

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