blueshift meaning: definition, etymology

blueshift

noun

/ˈbluːˌʃɪft/

Etymology From blue + shift.

Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics A decrease in the wavelength of a photon or of light, corresponding to a higher frequency and a shift toward the blue end of the electromagnetic spectrum.

blueshift

verb

Etymology From blue + shift.

Natural sciences, Physical sciences, Physics (ergative) (said of light or a photon) To shift toward the blue end of the electromagnetic spectrum; to change to a shorter wavelength and a higher frequency.

Derived terms: blueshifted
Related terms: Doppler effect

Entry derived from the Wiktionary, under licence CC BY-SA 4.0 — list of authors.