What does "pulsar" mean?
A rotating neutron star that emits radio pulses periodically.
Pulsar
noun
noun ·2 syllables ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A rotating neutron star that emits radio pulses periodically.
- Grammar: pulsar is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: absolute magnitude, beam emission, beehive, binary star.
- Useful contrasts: continuous emission, nonpulsar, steady emitter.
- Usage evidence: Space-time around the pulsar is so distorted that light from the side of the pulsar facing away from us is “bent” and redirected into our view.
How to use "pulsar"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pulsar" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pulsar" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pulsar" as the right word for your sentence.
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Compare nearby meanings
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Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pulsar" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "absolute magnitude" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
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Final meaning check
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When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A rotating neutron star that emits radio pulses periodically.
"Rapidly rotating dead stars, pulsars are so named because as they spin, they release beams of electromagnetic radiation across space that appear to pulse like celestial lighthouses. But a pulsar called PSR J1023+0038, located about 4,500 light-years away from Earth in the Sextans constellation, is even more unusual in that some of the pulses are brighter than others, almost like it’s switching between different modes."
- 2 a degenerate neutron star; small and extremely dense; rotates very fast and emits regular pulses of polarized radiation wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Space-time around the pulsar is so distorted that light from the side of the pulsar facing away from us is “bent” and redirected into our view."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pulsar"?
Common synonyms include: absolute magnitude, beam emission, beehive, binary star, black hole, cepheid variable.
How do you use "pulsar" in a sentence?
Space-time around the pulsar is so distorted that light from the side of the pulsar facing away from us is “bent” and redirected into our view.
Etymology
Blend of pulsating + (radio) star, patterned after quasar. Coined by British astronomers Antony Hewish and Jocelyn Bell in 1968, and first used in print in The Daily Telegraph. By surface analysis, pulse + -ar