DOUBLE STAR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does double star mean? 

• DOUBLE STAR (noun)
  The noun DOUBLE STAR has 1 sense:

1. a system of two stars that revolve around each other under their mutual gravitation

  Familiarity information: DOUBLE STAR used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• DOUBLE STAR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A system of two stars that revolve around each other under their mutual gravitation

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

binary; binary star; double star

Hypernyms ("double star" is a kind of...):

star ((astronomy) a celestial body of hot gases that radiates energy derived from thermonuclear reactions in the interior)

Instance hyponyms:

Aldebaran (the brightest star in Taurus)

Algol (the second brightest star in Perseus; the first known eclipsing binary)

Alpha Centauri; Rigil; Rigil Kent (brightest star in Centaurus; second nearest star to the sun)

Altair (double star 15.7 light years from Earth; the brightest star in the Aquila constellation)

Antares (the brightest star in Scorpius)

Epsilon Aurigae (the largest known star)

Procyon (the brightest star in Canis Minor)

Beta Orionis; Rigel (the brightest star in Orion)

Canicula; Dog Star; Sirius; Sothis (the brightest star in the sky; in Canis Major)

Vega (the brightest star in the constellation Lyra)

 Context examples 

These double star systems are called high-mass X-ray binaries.

(Chandra Samples Galactic Goulash, NASA)