Meanings
plural massive compact halo objects · alternative massive astronomical compact halo object · alternative massive astrophysical compact halo object · alternative massive and compact halo object
- astronomyAny kind of astronomical body comprising normal baryonic matter that in sufficient numbers might explain the apparent presence of dark matter in galaxy halos.
Synonyms: MACHO
Synonyms & antonyms
nounAny kind of astronomical body comprising normal baryonic matter that in sufficient numbers might explain the apparent presence of dark matter in galaxy halos.
Origin
Perhaps coined with the acronym, MACHO, in mind. See also WIMP, which represents a competing hypothesis.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Chinese Mandarin 暈族大質量緻密天體 /晕族大质量致密天体
- 暈族大質量緻密天體 /晕族大质量致密天体 (yūnzú dàzhìliàng zhìmì tiāntǐ)astronomical body
Finnish massiivinen kompakti halo-objekti
- massiivinen kompakti halo-objektiastronomical body
Polish MACHO
- MACHOastronomical body
Cite this entry
massive compact halo object. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/massive%20compact%20halo%20object
“massive compact halo object.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/massive%20compact%20halo%20object. Accessed November 5, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “massive compact halo object,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/massive%20compact%20halo%20object.
Source: massive compact halo object on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.