Phrase guide

gravity darkening

noun · 1 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.

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1

noun

Meaning 1

The phenomenon of a star rotating so rapidly that it is oblate, with a larger radius and thus lower surface gravity at the equator (which is thus cooler and darker: gravity-darkened), and higher surface gravity at the poles (which are hotter and brighter: gravity brightened).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: uncountable

Topics: astronomy, natural-sciences, physical-sciences, physics

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Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

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