Synonyms

cosmic dust

American

noun

Astronomy.

fine particles of matter in space.

cosmic dust British

noun

fine particles of solid matter occurring throughout interstellar space and often collecting into clouds of extremely low density See also nebula

"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

Etymology

Origin of cosmic dust

First recorded in 1880–85

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

"During the last ice age, there was almost no cosmic dust in the Arctic sediments," he said.

From Science Daily • Nov. 13, 2025

Unlike visible light, radio waves from hot gasses are not blocked that easily by cosmic dust.

From Space Scoop • Mar. 27, 2025

Most of the emitted light, for example visible light and X-ray, get blocked by thick layers of cosmic dust and can’t pass through the accretion disk around them.

From Space Scoop • Mar. 27, 2025

One of the most fundamental building blocks in the universe, cosmic dust is a vital ingredient to the growth of a galaxy.

From Science Daily • Jan. 17, 2024

Then he was floating in what felt like waves of cosmic dust, swirling many-colored before his eyes.

From The Colors of Space by Bradley, Marion Zimmer

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023