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cepheid

Syllabification: (ce·phe·id)
Pronunciation: /ˈsēfēəd, ˈsef-/

(also cepheid variable)
Definition of cepheid

noun

Astronomy
  • a variable star having a regular cycle of brightness with a frequency related to its luminosity, so allowing estimation of its distance from the earth.

Origin:

early 20th century: from the name of the variable star Delta Cephei, which typifies this class of stars

cepheid in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of cepheid in the British & World English dictionary

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