luminosity

English

Etymology

Borrowed from French luminosité or else a native formation from luminous +‎ -ity.[1][2]

Pronunciation

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  • Rhymes: -ɒsɪti

Noun

luminosity (countable and uncountable, plural luminosities)

  1. (uncountable) the state of being luminous, or a luminous object; brilliance or radiance
  2. (physics) the ratio of luminous flux to radiant flux at the same wavelength; the luminosity factor
  3. (astronomy) The rate at which a star radiates energy in all directions.
    • 2012, O. Havnes, B. R. Pettersen, J. H. M. M. Schmitt, Activity in Cool Star Envelopes: Proceedings, page 56:
      We recognize the same pattern as in the left panel, with dM stars being much less frequent flarers than dMe stars of similar luminosity.
    • 2015, D. J. Armstrong, C. E. Pugh, A.-M. Broomhall, D. J. A. Brown, M. N. Lund, H. P. Osborn, D. L. Pollacco, “The Host Stars of Keplers Habitable Exoplanets: Superflares, Rotation and Activity”, in arXiv‎[1]:
      We derive rotation periods, photometric activity indices, flaring energies, mass loss rates, gyrochronological ages, X-ray luminosities and consider implications for the planetary magnetospheres and habitability.

Derived terms

Translations

References

  1. ^ Douglas Harper (2001–2025) “luminosity (n.)”, in Online Etymology Dictionary.
  2. ^ “luminosity, n.”, in OED Online ⁠, Oxford: Oxford University Press, launched 2000.

Further reading

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