A galaxy is an extremely large group of stars and planets that extends over many billions of light years.
Astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy.
Synonyms: star system, solar system, nebula More Synonyms of galaxy
2. proper noun
The Galaxy is the extremely large group of stars and planets to which the Earth and the Solar System belong.
The Galaxy consists of 100 billion stars.
3. singular noun
If you talk about a galaxy of people from a particular profession, you mean a group of them who are all famous or important.
He is one of a small galaxy of Dutch stars on German television. [+ of]
More Synonyms of galaxy
galaxy in British English
(ˈɡæləksɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-axies
1.
any of a vast number of star systems held together by gravitational attraction in an asymmetric shape (an irregular galaxy) or, more usually, in a symmetrical shape (a regular galaxy), which is either a spiral or an ellipse
Former names: island universe, extragalactic nebula ▶ Related adjective: galactic
2.
a splendid gathering, esp one of famous or distinguished people
Word origin
C14 (in the sense: the Milky Way), from Medieval Latin galaxia, from Latin galaxias, from Greek, from gala milk; related to Latin lac milk
Galaxy in British English
(ˈɡæləksɪ)
noun
the Galaxy
galaxy in American English
(ˈgæləksi)
nounWord forms: pluralˈgalaxies
1. [usuallyG-]
Milky Way
, often with the
2.
a large, independent system of stars, typically containing millions to hundreds of billions of stars: the four classes of galaxies are spiral, barred spiral, elliptical, or irregular, depending on their shape
3.
a.
an assembly of brilliant or famous people
b.
a brilliant array of things
Word origin
ME galaxie < LL galaxias < Gr, Milky Way < gala, milk: see galactic
Look around and you can see other planets and stars in the galaxy.
The Sun (2016)
Second, that light from all these distant galaxies was stretched toward the red end of the visible spectrum.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was this missing mass - and its gravity - that was keeping these spinning galaxies glued together.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Its gravitational pull literally holds our galaxy together.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They will both lose their spiral shapes and end up as one featureless galaxy.
The Sun (2012)
The most distant galaxies would be moving across the sky as well as receding from us.
Barrow, John D. The Origin of the Universe (1995)
Because the blessed galaxy is so vast.
Zindell, David The Broken God (1993)
This is a galaxy crashing into another one.
The Sun (2009)
There are about one billion other galaxies like our own.
Christianity Today (2000)
Does it seem likely that only our planet should contain life in such a vast and crowded galaxy?
The Sun (2009)
The woman in the above picture appears to be wondering if she is wearing the right shoes for a voyage to another galaxy.
The Times Literary Supplement (2011)
From the 1920s we realised that our galaxy is one of many.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It will become as bright as all the other stars in the galaxy put together and shine like a beacon halfway across the universe.
The Sun (2010)
Wild enthusiasm is the statutory reception accorded in Scotland these days to the new political star in our galaxy.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
From this small sample, we can infer that there are literally billions of such planets in our galaxy.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
This is an object as heavy as a small galaxy packed into a space smaller than our solar system and capable of eating whole star systems.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
It binds the galaxy together.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
I enjoy being out of my comfort zone, but this is a different comfort galaxy.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
A 15-year-old schoolboy has helped change the way science views the way galaxies are formed.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
He likes reading about space, galaxies, different theories and concepts.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Number of stars in the Milky Way galaxy.
The Sun (2010)
The jet of radiation is pummelling a small nearby galaxy, damaging any planets in its path and probably destroying life on any that are habitable.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
How can'less than one' planet in the galaxy have intelligent life on it?
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
So, when a project boasts a galaxy of stars who have put their money into it, it means something.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
In other languages
galaxy
British English: galaxy NOUN
A galaxy is an extremely large group of stars and planets that extends over many billions of light years.
Astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy.
American English: galaxy
Brazilian Portuguese: galáxia
Chinese: 星系
European Spanish: galaxia
French: galaxie
German: Galaxis
Italian: galassia
Japanese: 星雲
Korean: 은하계
European Portuguese: galáxia
Latin American Spanish: galaxia
All related terms of 'galaxy'
the Galaxy
the spiral galaxy , approximately 100 000 light years in diameter , that contains the solar system about three fifths of the distance from its centre
active galaxy
a galaxy that emits usually large amounts of energy from a very compact central source, such as Seyfert galaxies, radio galaxies, and quasars
radio galaxy
a galaxy that is a strong emitter of radio waves
spiral galaxy
a galaxy consisting of an ellipsoidal nucleus of old stars from opposite sides of which arms , containing younger stars, spiral outwards around the nucleus. In a barred spiral , the arms originate at the ends of a bar-shaped nucleus
external galaxy
any galaxy beyond our own galaxy
Seyfert galaxy
any of a class of spiral galaxies having a very bright nucleus , possibly corresponding to an active period in the lives of all spiral galaxies
elliptical galaxy
a type of galaxy having the shape of a spheroid or ellipsoid , rather than a disk
Chinese translation of 'galaxy'
galaxy
(ˈɡæləksɪ)
n
(c)星系 (xīngxì) (个(個), gè)
the Galaxy银(銀)河系 (Yínhéxì)
1 (noun)
Definition
a star system held together by gravitational attraction
Astronomers have discovered a distant galaxy.
Synonyms
star system
solar system
nebula
2 (noun)
Definition
a collection of brilliant people or things
a galaxy of famous movie stars
Synonyms
array
gathering
He spoke today before a large gathering of world leaders.
assembly
She waited until quiet settled on the assembly.
assemblage
a chaotic assemblage of drifters and ruffians
related words
related adjectivegalactic
Additional synonyms
in the sense of assemblage
Definition
a collection or group of things
a chaotic assemblage of drifters and ruffians
Synonyms
group,
company,
meeting,
body,
crowd,
collection,
mass,
gathering,
rally,
assembly,
flock,
congregation,
accumulation,
multitude,
throng,
hui (New Zealand),
conclave,
aggregation,
convocation (formal),
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of assembly
Definition
a number of people gathered together for a meeting
She waited until quiet settled on the assembly.
Synonyms
gathering,
group,
meeting,
body,
council,
conference,
crowd,
congress,
audience,
collection,
mass,
diet,
rally,
convention,
flock,
company,
house,
congregation,
accumulation,
multitude,
throng,
synod,
hui (New Zealand),
assemblage,
conclave,
aggregation,
convocation (formal),
jamaat,
runanga (New Zealand)
in the sense of gathering
Definition
a group of people, usually meeting for some particular purpose
He spoke today before a large gathering of world leaders.