Trends ofnebula
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nebula
(nebjələ)
Word forms: plural nebulae
countable noun [oft in names]
A nebula is a cloud of dust and gas in space. New stars are produced from nebulae.
...the Great Nebula.
nebula in British English
(ˈnɛbjʊlə)
nounWord forms: plural -lae (-ˌliː) or -las
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 nebula2. pathology
a.
opacity of the cornea
b.
cloudiness of the urine
3.
any substance for use in an atomizer spray
Derived forms
nebular (ˈnebular) adjective
Word origin
C17: from Latin: mist, cloud; related to Greek nephétē cloud, Old High German nebul cloud, Old Norse njól nightnebula in American English
(ˈnɛbjələ)
nounWord forms: plural ˈnebuˌlae (ˈnɛbjəˌli) or ˈnebulas
1.
a cloud of interstellar gas or dust
formerly, applied to any hazy, distant celestial object, as a star cluster or anexternal galaxy2. Medicine
a.
a small, cloudy opacity on the cornea
b.
a liquid preparation used as a spray
Derived forms
nebular (ˈnebular) adjective
Word origin
ModL < L, vapor, fog, mist < IE base *nebh-, moist, vapor, cloud > Gr nephos, nephelē, cloud, OE nifol, mist, darknessImage ofnebula
© NASA images, shutterstock