RELATIVISTIC

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does relativistic mean? 

• RELATIVISTIC (adjective)
  The adjective RELATIVISTIC has 2 senses:

1. relating or subject to the special or the general theory of relativity

2. of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of relativism

  Familiarity information: RELATIVISTIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• RELATIVISTIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Relating or subject to the special or the general theory of relativity

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Context example:

radiation from relativistic particles

Domain category:

natural philosophy; physics (the science of matter and energy and their interactions)

Pertainym:

relativity ((physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts)

Derivation:

relativity ((physics) the theory that space and time are relative concepts rather than absolute concepts)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of or relating to the philosophical doctrine of relativism

Classified under:

Relational adjectives (pertainyms)

Pertainym:

relativism ((philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that all criteria of judgment are relative to the individuals and situations involved)

Derivation:

relativism ((philosophy) the philosophical doctrine that all criteria of judgment are relative to the individuals and situations involved)

relativity (the quality of being relative and having significance only in relation to something else)

 Context examples 

The second jet, by contrast, is moving so rapidly away from us that the relativistic effects render it invisible at all wavelengths.

(The Giant Galaxy Around the Giant Black Hole, NASA)

In addition, the observations have provided better measurements of Mrk 335's furious relativistic spin rate.

(NuSTAR sees rare blurring of black hole light, NASA)

At those extreme velocities, the gas appears to brighten as it travels toward Earth on one side, and dims as it speeds away from our planet on the other side (an effect called relativistic beaming).

(Hubble Uncovers Black Hole Disk that Shouldn't Exist, NASA)

Relativistic speeds are those approaching the speed of light, as described by Albert Einstein's theory of relativity.

(NuSTAR sees rare blurring of black hole light, NASA)

Its brightness is amplified due to its high speed in our direction, but even more so because of what scientists call relativistic effects, which arise because the material in the jet is traveling near the speed of light.

(The Giant Galaxy Around the Giant Black Hole, NASA)