WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
gravita′tional collapse′, [Astron.]
- Astronomythe final stage of stellar evolution in which a star collapses to a final state, as a white dwarf, neutron star, or black hole, when the star's nuclear reactions no longer generate enough pressure to balance the attractive force of gravity.
- Astronomythe initial stage of stellar evolution in which interstellar gases and dust contract under gravity and condense into one or more stars.
'gravitational collapse' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):