A K-type giant star is a type of star that has evolved from the main sequence stage of its life cycle. These stars are typically orange in color and have a surface temperature ranging from about 3,900 to 5,200 Kelvin. They are larger and more luminous than their main-sequence counterparts, often expanding to several times the size of the Sun as they exhaust their hydrogen fuel. K-type giants are found in the later stages of stellar evolution, where they fuse helium and other heavier elements in their cores. They are important for understanding the life cycles of stars and contribute to the chemical enrichment of the galaxy as they shed material into space during their later stages.