bow shock

noun

ˈbau̇- How to pronounce bow shock (audio)
: the shock wave formed by the collision of a stellar wind with another medium (such as the magnetosphere of a planet)

Examples of bow shock in a Sentence

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
What Causes a Shooting Star? Shooting stars occur when a meteor enters Earth's atmosphere, causing a bow shock that heats and lights up both the debris and the surrounding air due to their high-speed collision. — Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024 This creates a bright streak in the sky due to the phenomenon called bow shock, where the debris compresses and heats the atmosphere in front of it, making both the debris and air glow. — Avery Hurt, Discover Magazine, 12 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1950, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bow shock was in 1950

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Cite this Entry

“Bow shock.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bow%20shock. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bow shock

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