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protogalaxy

American  
[proh-toh-gal-uhk-see, proh-toh-gal-] / ˌproʊ toʊˈgæl ək si, ˈproʊ toʊˌgæl- /

noun

Astronomy.

plural

protogalaxies

  1. the large concentration of gas and dust from which a galaxy is formed.

protogalaxy British  
/ ˌprəʊtəʊˈɡæləksɪ /

noun

  1. a cloud of gas in the early stages of its evolution into a galaxy

"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 protogalaxy

First recorded in 1945–50; proto- + galaxy

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.

When its dark matter power source gives out, a dark star would quickly collapse into a 1-million-solar-mass black hole—a perfect large seed ready to be adopted by a nearby protogalaxy.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 22, 2023

As the first stars in a protogalaxy begin to shine, they inject more heat into the gas, pumping the brakes on further star formation.

From Science Magazine • Aug. 9, 2022

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.