noun
quasar
KWAY-zah
Quasar (noun) means an extremely bright and distant celestial object, powered by a supermassive black hole, that appears starlike from Earth. Example: “Quasars are among the most luminous objects in the universe.”
noun
1
An extremely bright and distant celestial object, powered by a supermassive black hole, that appears starlike from Earth.
"Quasars are among the most luminous objects in the universe."
"Astronomers detected a quasar billions of light-years away."
How to use quasar
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA super-bright, distant object in deep space powered by a giant black hole.
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Word forms
- Plural
- quasars
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
_____ are among the most luminous objects in the universe.
Etymology
A blend of "quasi-stellar," coined in 1964 to describe these starlike radio sources.
Class of 1964
quasar joined the language around 1964.
See the full Class of 1964 →
Synonyms
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quasi-stellar radio source
Frequently asked questions
What does “quasar” mean?
The word “quasar” means an extremely bright and distant celestial object, powered by a supermassive black hole, that appears starlike from Earth. In plain terms, a super-bright, distant object in deep space powered by a giant black hole.
How do you pronounce “quasar”?
“Quasar” is pronounced KWAY-zah (/ˈkweɪ.zɑɹ/ in IPA).
How do you use “quasar” in a sentence?
Here is “quasar” used in a sentence: “Quasars are among the most luminous objects in the universe.”
What part of speech is “quasar”?
“Quasar” is a noun.
Where does the word “quasar” come from?
The word “quasar” dates back to around 1964. A blend of "quasi-stellar," coined in 1964 to describe these starlike radio sources.
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