Why are stars generally classified as 'dwarfs'?
Answer
Because they are smaller than giants/supergiants or are less massive than the fusion threshold
The term 'dwarf' is a relative grouping, indicating that the object is smaller than the luminous giant phases, or, in the case of Brown Dwarfs, less massive than the minimum required for sustained hydrogen fusion.
Related Questions
Why are stars generally classified as 'dwarfs'?What characteristic makes Red Dwarfs the smallest true stars?In what context is our Sun often referred to as a yellow dwarf?Despite having a radius similar to Earth's, what mass do White Dwarfs retain?What primary physics event separates a Brown Dwarf from a true star like a Red Dwarf?How do Brown Dwarfs generate light and heat if they cannot sustain core hydrogen fusion?What minimum mass is required for an object to initiate sustained ordinary hydrogen fusion, becoming a true star?What stage of stellar evolution does a White Dwarf represent?How long can the lifetimes of Red Dwarfs extend?What is the basis used for classifying a White Dwarf as a 'dwarf' compared to a Brown Dwarf?