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elliptical galaxy
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noun Astronomy.
a type of galaxy having the shape of a spheroid or ellipsoid, rather than a disk.
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Also called elliptical, E galaxy.
Words nearby elliptical galaxy
ellipsoidal, ellipsoid of revolution, ellipsometer, ellipt, elliptical, elliptical galaxy, elliptical light, elliptically, elliptical polarization, elliptical trainer, elliptic function
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Scientific definitions for elliptical galaxy
elliptical galaxy
[ Ä-lÄp′tÄ-kÉ™l ]
The most common type of galaxy, ranging in shape from nearly spherical (classified as E0) to greatly elongated (classified as E7). Elliptical galaxies vary greatly in size and include some of the largest and smallest known galaxies. They do not have spiral arms and have considerably less interstellar gas and dust than spiral galaxies, with little or no star formation taking place within them. Their stars follow individual elliptical orbits around the center of the galaxy. Long thought to be older galaxies which had used up all the material for star formation, it has also been suggested that elliptical galaxies actually form from collisions between spiral galaxies. Compare irregular galaxy lenticular galaxy spiral galaxy. See more at Hubble classification system.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
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