spaghettification

spa·ghet·ti·fi·ca·tion

 (spə-gĕt′ə-fĭ-kā′shən)

n. Physics

The extreme elongation or stretching of an object by tidal forces as it falls toward an extremely massive and compact astronomical body, such as a black hole or neutron star.

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[spaghetti + -fication.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

spaghettification

(spəˌɡɛtɪfɪˈkeɪʃən)

n

(Astronomy) physics the theoretical process by which an object approaching a black hole is progressively broken down into a long thin string of particles by increasing gravitational forces, esp the vast difference in gravitational strength at either end of the object

Also called: noodle effect

[C20: because the gravitational forces would appear to stretch the object into a long thin string resembling a strand of spaghetti]

spaˈghettiˌfy vb

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014