flare star
- noun
- /flɛr stɑr/
- Specialized
:
estrella fulgurante
- Scientists study flare stars to understand the eruptions that cause them to shine brightly for a short time.
Examples
-
Stars similar to YY Gem and collectively referred to as YY Gem stars are much smaller than the Sun, have large spots, and, like the smallest normal eclipsing binary, CM Draconis, are known to be flare stars.
Academic text (1999) -
There was some thought that because the star's companion Proxima Centauri was a flare star, the whole system must be quite young.
Academic text (1993) -
A flare star can brighten unexpectedly, making it an intriguing subject for astronomers.
-
During a recent observation, the team noted that the flare star erupted, temporarily dazzling their telescope.
How Bright
- Specialized
40
7.5
- Specialized
7
8.6
- Specialized
- Specialized
2
6.1
Surface Forms
Morphology
The compound is directly built from 'flare' (a sudden burst of light) + 'star' (a celestial object), so the meaning 'a star that suddenly brightens due to flares' is compositional and predictable. Although a bit technical, the 'X + star' pattern (a star characterized by X) is transparent and would be understandable to a B1 learner who knows both constituents.
Etymology
The name flare star comes from the way the small star suddenly makes a flare of light, like a brief flame. That's why the name means a star that 'suddenly becomes bright' for a short time.