nebula

noun

neb·​u·​la ˈne-byə-lə How to pronounce nebula (audio)
plural nebulae ˈne-byə-ˌlē How to pronounce nebula (audio) -ˌlī How to pronounce nebula (audio) also nebulas
1
: any of numerous clouds of gas or dust in interstellar space
2
: galaxy sense 1b
especially : a galaxy other than the Milky Way galaxy
not used technically
nebular adjective

Did you know?

The history of nebula belongs not to the mists of time but to the mists of Latin: in that language nebula means "mist" or "cloud." In its earliest English uses in the 1600s, nebula was chiefly a medical term that could refer either to a cloudy formation in urine or to a cloudy speck or film on the eye. Nebula was first applied to great interstellar clouds of gas and dust in the early 1700s. The adjective nebulous comes from the same Latin root as nebula, and it is considerably older, being first used as a synonym of cloudy or foggy as early as the 1300s. Like nebula, this adjective was not used in an astronomical sense until centuries later.

Examples of nebula in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Borsari captures the nebula’s shape beautifully, demonstrating the promise of young astrophotography talent, per the contest judges. Samuel Sanders, Smithsonian Magazine, 13 Sep. 2024 During his most recent visit to the research center, the professor captured a series of striking images of nebulas and galaxies. Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 Astronomers recently aimed the mighty James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) at the Crab in hopes of better understanding the nebula's structure. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 10 Nov. 2023 In fact, Hamber is more impressed by galaxies and nebulas in comparison with the planets. Sara Chernikoff, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for nebula 

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, from Latin, mist, cloud; akin to Old High German nebul fog, Greek nephelē, nephos cloud

First Known Use

1718, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nebula was in 1718

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Cite this Entry

“Nebula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nebula. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

nebula

noun
neb·​u·​la ˈneb-yə-lə How to pronounce nebula (audio)
plural nebulas or nebulae -ˌlē How to pronounce nebula (audio)
-ˌlī
1
: any of many huge clouds of gas or dust in deep space
2
nebular adjective

Medical Definition

nebula

noun
neb·​u·​la ˈneb-yə-lə How to pronounce nebula (audio)
plural nebulas or nebulae -ˌlē How to pronounce nebula (audio) -ˌlī How to pronounce nebula (audio)
: a slight cloudy opacity of the cornea

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