nebula

[ neb-yuh-luh ]

noun

, plural neb·u·lae [neb, -y, uh, -lee, -lahy], neb·u·las.

1. Astronomy.
   1. Also called diffuse nebula. a cloud of interstellar gas and dust. Compare dark nebula, emission nebula, reflection nebula.
   2. (formerly) any celestial object that appears nebulous, hazy, or fuzzy, and extended in a telescope view.
2. Pathology.
   1. a faint opacity in the cornea.
   2. cloudiness in the urine.
3. any liquid medication prepared for use as a spray.

nebula

/ ˈnɛbjʊlə /

noun

1. 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
2. pathol
   1. opacity of the cornea
   2. cloudiness of the urine
3. any substance for use in an atomizer spray

nebula

/ nĕb′yə-lə /

, Plural nebulae nĕb′yə-lē′

1. 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.
2. ◆ 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 .
3. See more at star

nebula

1. plur. nebulae In astronomy , a hazy patch of light visible in the sky. Some nebulae are clouds of gas within the Milky Way ; others are distant galaxies .

Derived Forms

• ˈnebular, adjective

Other Words From

• nebu·lar adjective
• non·nebu·lar adjective
• pre·nebu·lar adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of nebula¹

First recorded in 1655–65; from Latin: “cloud, mist, vapor”; akin to German Nebel “fog, haze,” Greek nephélē “cloud,” Sanskrit nábha- “cloud, vapor”

Word History and Origins

Origin of nebula¹

C17: from Latin: mist, cloud; related to Greek nephétē cloud, Old High German nebul cloud, Old Norse njól night

Example Sentences

The top notes are listed as cosmic dust and antimatter particles, the heart of the fragrance is described as starlight, the scent of Supernova, and the base notes are atmospheric vapour, and dark nebulae.

From Essence.com

Because planetary nebula shapes resemble these winds’ shapes, the researchers conclude that these same forces influence a nebula’s final shape, long before the nebula itself is created.

From Science News

This means that it might be possible to predict the shapes of planetary nebulae long before they form, she says.

From Science News

So she and her colleagues examined 14 stars in the red giant phase, before they become planetary nebulae.

From Science News

“The action of the shaping does not happen when the star becomes a planetary nebula,” Decin says, but is already happening hundreds of thousands to millions of years before, during the red giant phase.

From Science News

Following Anna Deavere Smith is like following a swiftly moving nebula.

From The Daily Beast

And yet there are millions of stars whose distances are even greater than the distance of the Great Nebula in Orion.

From Project Gutenberg

The fainter parts of the nebula would be shown more satisfactorily by a longer exposure.

From Project Gutenberg

Then his vision cleared and he knew where he was—in the surgery room of the Nebula.

From Project Gutenberg

And, if we don't get too bored, we might run over to the giant model nebula in Andromeda, or one of the others.

From Project Gutenberg

One of the most exquisite of these modern photographs is that of the Trifid nebula in Sagittarius (Fig. 142).

From Project Gutenberg