Any of numerous large-scale aggregates of stars, gas, and dust that constitute the universe, containing an average of 100 billion (1011) solar masses and ranging in diameter from 1,500 to 300,000 light-years. Also called nebula.
often Galaxy The Milky Way.
An assembly of brilliant, glamorous, or distinguished persons or things: a galaxy of theatrical performers.
[Middle English galaxie, the Milky Way, from Late Latin galaxiās, from Greek, from gala, galakt-, milk; see melg- in Indo-European roots.]
c.1384, from L.L. galaxias "Milky Way," from Gk. galaxis (adj.), from gala (gen. galaktos) "milk" (see lactation). The technical astronomical sense emerged 1848. Fig. sense of "brilliant assembly of persons" is from 1590. Milky Way is a translation of L. via lactea.
"See yonder, lo, the Galaxyë Which men clepeth the Milky Wey, For hit is whyt." [Chaucer, "House of Fame"]
Galaxylanguage An extensible language in the vein of EL/1 and RCC. ["Introduction to the Galaxy Language", Anne F. Beetem et al, IEEE Software 6(3):55-62]. (1995-12-09)