nebula

American  

[neb-yuh-luh] / ˈnɛb yə lə /

noun

plural

nebulae, nebulas

1. Astronomy.

   1. Also called diffuse nebula.  a cloud of interstellar gas and dust.

   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.

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nebula British  

/ 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

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nebula Scientific  

/ nĕb′yə-lə /

plural

nebulae

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

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nebula Cultural  

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.

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Other Word Forms

• nebular adjective
• nonnebular adjective
• prenebular adjective

Etymology

Origin of nebula

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

Example Sentences

About 1,000 light years away in the constellation Cygnus, the nebula surrounds a hidden central star buried within a thick blanket of dust, resembling a glowing "yolk" inside a dark "egg white."

From Science Daily • Feb. 13, 2026

The new data also highlights a clear transition from the hottest gas near the center to much cooler material farther out, as the nebula continues to expand away from its central star.

From Science Daily • Jan. 26, 2026

And perfectly in time for Halloween, they captured a spooky, red-glowing nebula that looks just like a bat signal shining across the universe!

From Space Scoop • Oct. 31, 2025

The Andromeda nebula, M31, was a prominent example.

From Salon • Feb. 14, 2025

Her dress was void black, mixed with the colors of a space nebula, as if galaxies were being born in her bodice.

From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan