gamma-ray burst
noun
gam·ma-ray burst
ˈga-mə-ˈrā- 
variants
or less commonly gamma ray burst
plural gamma-ray bursts also gamma ray bursts
: a brief, powerful jet of gamma rays detected deep in space that is generated by the collapse and explosion of a celestial object
… researchers … have discovered a gamma-ray burst (GRB) approximately 2.4 billion light-years away in the constellation Sagitta that ranks as the brightest ever observed.—
Space Daily
Space DailyEventually, though, the neutron star slows down, probably because of magnetic braking. Then it implodes, touching off a gamma ray burst.—Govert Schilling
—abbreviation GRB
Govert SchillingExamples of gamma-ray burst in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
As reported previously, gamma-ray bursts are extremely high-energy explosions in distant galaxies lasting between mere milliseconds to several hours.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 July 2024
That collision knocks off more electrons in a cascading process that creates enough energy to result in gamma-ray bursts and other types of radiation.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024
Those gamma-ray bursts lasting less than two seconds (about 30 percent) are deemed short bursts, usually emitting from regions with very little star formation.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 July 2024
That hypothesis was confirmed in 2017 when the LIGO collaboration picked up the gravitational wave signal of two neutron stars merging, accompanied by the powerful gamma-ray bursts associated with a kilonova.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gamma-ray burst 
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.
Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 July 2024
That collision knocks off more electrons in a cascading process that creates enough energy to result in gamma-ray bursts and other types of radiation.
—Paul Smaglik, Discover Magazine, 3 Oct. 2024
Those gamma-ray bursts lasting less than two seconds (about 30 percent) are deemed short bursts, usually emitting from regions with very little star formation.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 July 2024
That hypothesis was confirmed in 2017 when the LIGO collaboration picked up the gravitational wave signal of two neutron stars merging, accompanied by the powerful gamma-ray bursts associated with a kilonova.
—Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 26 July 2024
See all Example Sentences for gamma-ray burst
Dictionary Entries Near gamma-ray burst
Cite this Entry
“Gamma-ray burst.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamma-ray%20burst. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share