white dwarf

white dwarf

n.

The remnant of a star that has collapsed, having an extremely dense state with no empty space between its atoms, but not reaching the extremely dense state of a neutron star or black hole.

---

white dwarf

n

(Astronomy) one of a large class of small faint stars of enormous density (on average 10⁸ kg/m³) with diameters only about 1 per cent that of the sun, and masses less than the Chandrasekhar limit (about 1.4 solar masses). It is thought to mark the final stage in the evolution of a sun-like star

---

white′ dwarf′
n.

a star that is approximately the size of the earth, has undergone gravitational collapse, and is in the final stage of evolution for low-mass stars, beginning hot and white and ending cold and dark (black dwarf).

[1920–25]

---

white dwarf

A small, extremely dense star characterized by high temperature and luminosity. A white dwarf is believed to be in its final stage of evolution, having either used up most of its nuclear fuel in its main-sequence stage, or else moved through a giant stage and shed any remaining fuel in its outer layer as a planetary nebula, leaving only a glowing core. Some 10 percent of all stars in the Milky Way are white dwarfs, but despite their intrinsic luminosity, they are so small that none are visible to the naked eye. See Note at dwarf.

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

white dwarf - a faint star of enormous density white dwarf star star - (astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior