gravitational collapse

noun

, Astronomy.

1. the 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.
2. the initial stage of stellar evolution in which interstellar gases and dust contract under gravity and condense into one or more stars.

gravitational collapse

/ grăv′ĭ-tā′shə-nəl /

1. The implosion of a star or other celestial body as a result of its own gravity, resulting in a body that is many times smaller and denser than the original body.
2. The process by which stars, star clusters, and galaxies form from interstellar gas under the influence of gravity. Clusters of matter are drawn together by gravitational pull, with additional matter continuing to accumulate until the growing nebula develops into even denser gaseous bodies such as stars or groups of stars.

Example Sentences

According to this scenario, some 4.5 billion years ago, the original body grew massive enough that the heat from its gravitational collapse and radioactive elements partially melted the rocks, which separated into layers.

From Science Magazine

This could mean that the parallel fields from less dense regions feed material into denser ones, where fields are strong enough to limit gravitational collapse despite the additional star-forming material, the researchers say.

From Scientific American

In this theory, scientists hypothesize that a planet like Jupiter forms when part of a circumstellar disk becomes dense and cool enough to be vulnerable to gravitational collapse.

From Salon

The smallest, like 'the Unicorn,' are so-called stellar mass black holes formed by the gravitational collapse of a single star.

From Reuters

Sun-like stars fuse hydrogen into helium in their cores, producing copious amounts of energy that they use to support themselves against gravitational collapse.

From Nature