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nova
1[ noh-vuh ]
noun
- a star that suddenly becomes thousands of times brighter and then gradually fades to its original intensity.
Nova
2[ noh-vuh ]
noun
- Also called Nova Salmon. a Pacific salmon cured in the style of Nova Scotia salmon.
- nova, (loosely) any smoked salmon.
nova
/ nō′və /
, Plural novae nō′vē
- A white dwarf star that suddenly and temporarily becomes extremely bright as a result of the explosion at its surface of material accreted from an expanding companion star. The material, mostly hydrogen and helium, is attracted by the white dwarf's gravity and accumulates under growing pressure and heat until nuclear fusion is ignited. Unlike a supernova, a nova is not blown apart by the explosion and gradually returns to its original brightness over a period of weeks to years. Because of their sudden appearance where no star had been previously visible, novae were long thought to be new stars. Since 1925, novae have been classified as variable stars.
- Compare supernova
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Other Words From
- nova·like adjective
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Word History and Origins
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Word History and Origins
Origin of nova1
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Example Sentences
HALIFAX, Nova Scotia—It's amazing what some fresh Nova Scotia air can do.
Today, at the Arena Fonte Nova in Salvador—in the steamy northeastern coast of Brazil—we saw the Dutch Reconquista.
The couple will visit Pictou County for an event to celebrate Celtic heritage in Nova Scotia.
He wanted to be a big nova that would eclipse everything.... That was the only thing that would satisfy Andy.
He wanted to be a big nova that would eclipse everything. . . . That was the only thing that would satisfy Andy.
Quid sit Nova Francia, qualis regio, qui in e populi, quique mores.
On that fatal day in August on which war broke out we were in Nova Scotia.
The citizens of Halifax, Nova Scotia, celebrated the 108th anniversary of the settlement of that place.
A large number of loyalists were now leaving the States and settling in Nova Scotia.
They call the potatoes ‘Bluenoses’ just as they call the Nova Scotia folks.
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