Cepheid variable

noun

A radially pulsating (expanding and contracting) variable star with a regular period and known relationship between period and intrinsic brightness.

OriginLatin Delta Cephei →
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Meanings

nounCepheid variable (plural Cepheid variables)

plural Cepheid variables

  1. astronomyA radially pulsating (expanding and contracting) variable star with a regular period and known relationship between period and intrinsic brightness.

Origin

  1. LatinDelta Cephei
  2. EnglishCepheid variable

From Latin Delta Cephei, the first such star identified. From Cepheus, the name of the constellation in which such stars were first discovered. From being a star with variable brightness.

More words from Latin

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

French céphéide
  • céphéideradially pulsating variable star
Irish réalta athraitheach Ceifide
  • réalta athraitheach Ceifideradially pulsating variable star
Spanish estrella variable Cefeida
  • estrella variable Cefeidaradially pulsating variable star
Cite this entry
APA

Cepheid variable. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cepheid%20variable

MLA

“Cepheid variable.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cepheid%20variable. Accessed November 2, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Cepheid variable,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Cepheid%20variable.

Source: Cepheid variable on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.