redshift

[red-shift] /ˈrɛdˌʃɪft/

noun, Astronomy

a shift toward longer wavelengths of the spectral lines emitted by a celestial object that is caused by the object moving away from the earth.

Also, red shift.

Compare cosmological redshift, Doppler effect, gravitational redshift.

Origin

1920-25; red¹ + shift

Examples from the web for red shift

Gravitational red shift wavelength dilation proves gravity is produced by the absorption of time by matter.
The universe does not expand the observed red shift has wrongly been interpreted.
In a discontinuous universe there are other reasons for the red shift and background radiation.
Alternate explanations emerge naturally for the red shift and background radiation in a discontinuous universe.
red shift is related to age in such a way that for a red shift of infinity, you'll get the age of the universe.
Back when the red shift was newly discovered, there a competing theory about light losing energy as it travels through space.

British Dictionary definitions for red shift

redshift

/ˈredˌʃɪft/

noun

a shift in the lines of the spectrum of an astronomical object towards a longer wavelength (the red end of an optical spectrum), relative to the wavelength of these lines in the terrestrial spectrum, usually as a result of the Doppler effect caused by the recession of the object Compare blueshift

Contemporary definitions for red shift

noun

in astronomy, an increase in the wavelength of radiation emitted by astronomical objects, causing a shift of features in their spectra towards longer wavelengths due to their recession from the observer

Usage Note

science

red shift in Science

red shift
See under Doppler effect.

red shift in Culture

red shift definition

In physics, the reddening of light sent out by an object that is moving away from an observer. (See Doppler effect.)

Note: The red shift that can be observed in light from distant galaxies suggests that the universe is expanding, and thus supports the Big Bang theory.