nebula
Astronomy.
Also called diffuse nebula. a cloud of interstellar gas and dust.: Compare dark nebula, emission nebula, reflection nebula.
(formerly) any celestial object that appears nebulous, hazy, or fuzzy, and extended in a telescope view.
Pathology.
a faint opacity in the cornea.
cloudiness in the urine.
any liquid medication prepared for use as a spray.
Origin of nebula
1Other words from nebula
- neb·u·lar, adjective
- non·neb·u·lar, adjective
- pre·neb·u·lar, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use nebula in a sentence
But all around these star-clouds, or Nebulae as they are called, the clear blue sky is discovered by the naked eye.
Gospel Philosophy | J. H. WardAnd we can head for one of the nebulae in that general area.
Islands of Space | John W CampbellWhile we speak, new worlds are sparkling forth, suns are throwing off their nebulae, nebulae are hardening into worlds.
Lucretia, Complete | Edward Bulwer-LyttonAbout a hundred of these nebulae were known when Herschel began his studies.
A History of Science, Volume 3(of 5) | Henry Smith WilliamsAlso, the closest affinity is shown between nebulae and stars.
A History of Science, Volume 3(of 5) | Henry Smith Williams
British Dictionary definitions for nebula
/ (ˈnɛbjʊlə) /
astronomy a diffuse cloud of particles and gases (mainly hydrogen) that is visible either as a hazy patch of light (either an emission or a reflection nebula) or an irregular dark region against a brighter background (dark nebula): Compare planetary nebula
pathol
opacity of the cornea
cloudiness of the urine
any substance for use in an atomizer spray
Origin of nebula
1Derived forms of nebula
- nebular, adjective
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for nebula
[ nĕb′yə-lə ]
A visible, thinly spread cloud of interstellar gas and dust. Some nebulae are the remnants of a supernova explosion, others are gravity-induced condensations of the gases in the interstellar medium which in certain cases may become a site for the formation of new stars. The term was formerly used of any hazy, seemingly cloudlike object, including what are now recognized as other galaxies beyond the Milky Way; it is restricted now to actual clouds of gas and dust within our own galaxy.♦ Nebulae are generally classified as bright or dark. Among the bright nebulae are cold clouds that reflect light from nearby stars (reflection nebulae) and hot, ionized clouds that glow with their own light (emission nebulae). Dark nebulae-cold clouds that absorb the passing light from background stars-are called absorption nebulae. See more at star.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for nebula
[ (neb-yuh-luh) ]
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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