A starburst is a pattern that radiates outward from a center point, with lines or shapes spreading in all directions like the points of a star or rays of light. Think of fireworks exploding in the night sky, sending bright streaks outward in every direction. That's a starburst pattern.

You see starbursts everywhere once you start noticing them. When you squint at a bright light, the streaks you see are starbursts created by your eyelashes. Artists draw starbursts around light bulbs or suns to show they're shining brightly. Candy wrappers often feature starburst designs to catch your eye on store shelves. When a baseball hits a window just right, the crack lines spread outward in a starburst pattern.

The word also describes a popular chewy, fruit-flavored candy that comes in bright colors and fruity flavors. The candy's name fits the idea of a burst of flavor in your mouth.

In astronomy, a starburst galaxy is one where huge numbers of new stars are forming all at once, blazing with extraordinary brightness. Scientists study these galaxies to understand how stars are born in massive bursts of creation, like cosmic fireworks lighting up deep space.