globular cluster

noun

: any of various approximately spherical clusters of gravitationally associated stars that typically populate galactic halos

called also globular

Examples of globular cluster in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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With the bright moon out of the sky as the week ends, grab a pair of binoculars or a small telescope and look for M13, the brightest globular cluster visible from the Northern Hemisphere. Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025 The Messier 4 globular cluster will be positioned close to Antares and the moon throughout the night, though the light cast out from its 100,000 stars, will be swamped by the light of the near-full moon. Anthony Wood, Space.com, 13 May 2025 This dwarf galaxy merged with the Milky Way around 10 billion years ago, added at least eight globular clusters and some 50 billion solar masses' worth of stars, gas and dark matter. Ron Estes, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2025 This is significant because globular clusters are associated with other powerful events associated with older stars, including the collisions and mergers of two neutron stars or a white dwarf collapsing under its own gravity. Robert Lea, Space.com, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for globular cluster

Word History

First Known Use

1785, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of globular cluster was in 1785

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Cite this Entry

“Globular cluster.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/globular%20cluster. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.

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