Word
pulsar
Phoneticspul·sar, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈpʊɫsɝ/
UK/pˈʌlsɑː/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a very dense, spinning star that sends out regular bursts of radio waves. These bursts are so steady that they sound like a heartbeat to scientists.
n. a highly magnetised, rotating neutron star that emits beams of electromagnetic radiation. The observed pulses are the result of the star's rotation and the alignment of its magnetic axis with its rotational axis.
Examples
“Astronomers discovered a new pulsar in the Milky Way.”
“Because a pulsar rotates at a constant speed, it serves as a highly accurate cosmic clock for researchers.”
“The discovery of the first pulsar in 1967 initially led scientists to speculate about the possibility of an extraterrestrial signal, though it was eventually identified as a rapidly spinning neutron star.”
Examples
simple
“Astronomers discovered a new pulsar in the Milky Way.”
contextual
“Because a pulsar rotates at a constant speed, it serves as a highly accurate cosmic clock for researchers.”
complex
“The discovery of the first pulsar in 1967 initially led scientists to speculate about the possibility of an extraterrestrial signal, though it was eventually identified as a rapidly spinning neutron star.”
Real-World Examples
“The researchers pointed it at the sun, bright cosmic radio sources, the galactic plane and several pulsars.” Etymology
Blend of pulsating + (radio) star, patterned after quasar. Coined by British astronomers Antony Hewish and Jocelyn Bell in 1968, and first used in print in The Daily Telegraph. By surface analysis, pulse + -ar
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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