Cepheid

noun

Ce·​phe·​id ˈse-f(ē-)id How to pronounce Cepheid (audio) ˈsē- How to pronounce Cepheid (audio)
: any of a class of variable stars whose very regular light variations are related directly to their intrinsic luminosities and whose apparent luminosities are used to estimate distances in astronomy

Examples of Cepheid in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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With the Hubble Space Telescope, some of the light from any given Cepheid star overlapped with light from other stars close to it, so scientists had to use statistics to estimate how bright the Cepheid was alone. Marc Kamionkowski, Scientific American, 15 Oct. 2024 At subsidiary Cepheid, which handles molecular diagnostics, the team reported market share gains in molecular testing. Zev Fima, CNBC, 23 July 2024 The standard candle that Hubble used in plotting his diagram was a Cepheid variable, a star that brightens and dims at regular intervals. Richard Panek, Scientific American, 1 Dec. 2023 The diagnostics company Cepheid also lowered the cost of one of its test cartridges for the GeneXpert after John started another online campaign. Katherine MacPhail, STAT, 16 Mar. 2024 In the nearby cosmos, scientists measure distances using stars called Cepheid variables that periodically change in brightness. Quanta Magazine, 19 Jan. 2024 Energized by the finding, Hubble carried out the calculations and realized the Cepheid had led him to an even greater discovery. Corinne Purtill, Los Angeles Times, 3 Oct. 2023 This collection of 36 images from NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope features galaxies that are all hosts to both Cepheid variables and supernovae. Paul M. Sutter, Popular Mechanics, 3 Jan. 2023 This collection of 37 images from the Hubble Space Telescope, taken between 2003 and 2021, includes galaxies that are all hosts to both Cepheid variables and supernovae. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 23 May 2022

Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary, from Cepheus

First Known Use

circa 1903, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Cepheid was circa 1903

Dictionary Entries Near Cepheid

Cite this Entry

“Cepheid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Cepheid. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

Cepheid

noun
Ce·​phe·​id ˈsē-fē-əd How to pronounce Cepheid (audio)
: one of a class of pulsating stars whose changes in brightness are very regular
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