PARSEC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does parsec mean? 

• PARSEC (noun)
  The noun PARSEC has 1 sense:

1. a unit of astronomical length based on the distance from Earth at which stellar parallax is 1 second of arc; equivalent to 3.262 light years

  Familiarity information: PARSEC used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PARSEC (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A unit of astronomical length based on the distance from Earth at which stellar parallax is 1 second of arc; equivalent to 3.262 light years

Classified under:

Nouns denoting quantities and units of measure

Synonyms:

parsec; secpar

Hypernyms ("parsec" is a kind of...):

astronomy unit (a linear unit used for astronomical distances)

 Context examples 

This may be a solution to a theoretical conundrum called the final parsec problem, in which two supermassive black holes can approach to within a few light-years of each other but would need some extra pull inwards to merge because of the excess energy they carry in their orbits.

(Three Black Holes on Collision Course, NASA)