Skip to main content
secpar

secpar

9.9
A unit for measuring distances to stars that equals about 3.26 light-years
  • noun
  • /ˈsɛkˌpɑr/
  • Specialized
: secpar
  • One secpar equals approximately 3.262 light-years.

Examples

  • The nearest star is about 1 secpar away.

  • The star is almost two secpars away from our solar system.

  • Astronomers use the secpar to describe vast lengths between stars.

  • Distances in deep space are often measured in secpars rather than kilometers.

  • Astronomers often express the distance to nearby stars in secpars.

  • A star located two secpars from Earth could be around 6.5 light-years away.

  • When studying the universe, scientists frequently cite distances in secpars for accuracy.

Synonyms

parsec
vssecpar
  • Specialized
8 9.9

A unit used to measure large distances in space equal to about 3.26 light years

has the same definition but is an alternate term with slight numeric rounding

Surface Forms

secpar singular
secpars plural

Morphology

secpar = second + parallax (semi-transparent) = sec + par

Formed from abbreviations of 'second' (sec) and 'parallax' (par), the components indicate the technical meaning but the coinage and domain-specific usage make it only partly transparent to general learners.

Etymology

The word secpar comes from sec ('second') and parallax ('shift'). It names the distance at which a star appears to move by one 'second' when Earth is on the opposite side of its orbit, so a secpar is used to measure the huge distances between stars.