Meaning & use
astrophysics
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Meaning
noununcountable
The branch of physics that studies the physical nature and behavior of stars, galaxies, and other objects in space.
Grammar: Uncountable; takes a singular verb: Astrophysics is a challenging field.
Patterns
- study astrophysics
- a degree in astrophysics
- research in astrophysics
She earned a PhD in astrophysics from a university in California.
Astrophysics helps us understand how stars produce energy.
The conference brought together experts in astrophysics and cosmology.
Common combinations
- theoretical astrophysics
- He specializes in theoretical astrophysics, using math to model black holes.
- observational astrophysics
- Observational astrophysics relies on telescopes to gather data.
- professor of astrophysics
- She became a professor of astrophysics at a young age.
- astrophysics research
- Their astrophysics research focuses on dark matter.
Synonyms and how they differ
- astronomy
- Astronomy is the broader study of celestial objects and phenomena, while astrophysics specifically applies physics to understand them.
Word family
- astrophysicist noun
- A scientist who studies astrophysics.
- astrophysical adjective
- Relating to astrophysics.
Commonly confused: astrophysics or astrology?
astrophysics vs astrology
Astrology is the belief that stars influence human affairs, while astrophysics is a rigorous science.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'astrophysics' correctly?
Choose one answer.
'Astrophysics' is an uncountable noun and takes a singular verb, so 'is' is correct. Option 0 uses a plural verb incorrectly; option 2 uses it as a countable noun for a person (should be 'astrophysicist'); option 3 uses it as a verb (no such verb).
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “astrophysics”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.