Kirkwood gap

noun

A gap in the distribution of semi-major axes of asteroids in the main belt.

Meanings

Kirkwood gap1

nounKirkwood gap (plural Kirkwood gaps)

plural Kirkwood gaps

  1. astronomyA gap in the distribution of semi-major axes of asteroids in the main belt.

Kirkwood Gap2

nounKirkwood Gap (plural Kirkwood Gaps)

plural Kirkwood Gaps

  1. Alternative letter-case form of Kirkwood gap.

Origin

After American astronomer Daniel Kirkwood.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Kirkwood gap. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kirkwood%20gap

MLA

“Kirkwood gap.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kirkwood%20gap. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Kirkwood gap,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Kirkwood%20gap.

Source: Kirkwood gap on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.