word

Accretion Disk

uh-KREE-shun disk

əˈkriː.ʃən dɪsk

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Syllable breakdown

uhKREEshundisk

Dictionary meaning

A rotating disk of gas, dust, and other material that spirals inward toward a central massive object such as a black hole, neutron star, or protostar, heating up due to friction and emitting intense radiation.

Examples

The accretion disk around a black hole can reach temperatures of millions of degrees.
First images of a black hole revealed the glowing accretion disk surrounding its shadow.

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