brown dwarf

noun

: a celestial object that is much smaller than a normal star and has insufficient mass to sustain nuclear fusion but that is hot enough to radiate energy especially at infrared wavelengths

Examples of brown dwarf in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Viewed from a distance, the steady feeding process would proceed like a triangle as the victim brown dwarf orbits the star that is eating it. — Robert Lea, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2026

In this system, material seems to be flowing from the brown dwarf to the red dwarf in a process that could continue for millions of years. — Mary Randolph, Scientific American, 5 Oct. 2026

The phenomenon has been previously observed from Jupiter, Saturn and the sun, as well as stars outside the solar system and cool objects known as brown dwarfs — an intermediate between a star and a planet. — Jacopo Prisco, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

Other astronomers have questioned whether the current definition goes far enough, particularly as researchers discover rogue planets, brown dwarfs and other unusual objects that blur the boundaries between planets, moons and stars. — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1975, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for brown dwarf

• morph
• orf
• wharf
• polymorph

Kids Definition

brown dwarf

noun

: an object in space that is much smaller and dimmer than a normal star