Standard Lemma guide

blazar

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • US: /ˈbleɪ.zɑɹ/
  • rhymes with -eɪzɑː(ɹ)

1

noun

Meaning 1

A very compact quasar, associated with a supermassive black hole at the center of an active galaxy.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: astronomy, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

An object which is either an optically violent variable quasar (OVV quasar) or a BL Lac object or which has properties of both.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: astronomy, natural-sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Blend of B + L + Lac + quasar. Coined by astronomer Edward Spiegel in 1978 from BL Lac object and quasar, punning blazing from its optical presentation compared to usual quasars. By surface analysis, blaze + -ar.

Across languages

Translations

7 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Finnish: blasaari — astronomy: a very compact quasar, associated with a supermassive black hole
  • Polish: blazar — astronomy: a very compact quasar, associated with a supermassive black hole
  • Russian: блаза́р (blazár) — astronomy: a very compact quasar, associated with a supermassive black hole
  • Spanish: blazar — astronomy: a very compact quasar, associated with a supermassive black hole
  • Swedish: blazar — astronomy: a very compact quasar, associated with a supermassive black hole
  • Swedish: blasar — astronomy: a very compact quasar, associated with a supermassive black hole
  • Polish: blazar — an optically violent variable quasar or BL Lac object