galaxy
Definition from Wiktionary, a free dictionary
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[edit] English
[edit] Etymology
From Ancient Greek γαλαξίας (galaksias), “‘Milky Way’”) from γάλα (gala), “‘milk’”). The Milky Way, which seen in the night sky from the Earth's viewpoint, forms a "milky way" or "road of milk", as the spiral arm of the galaxy forms a streak we can faintly see.
[edit] Noun
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Singular |
Plural |
galaxy (plural galaxies)
- (astronomy) a collection of billions of stars, galactic dust, black holes, etc. of which there are billions in the known universe. They usually form spiral or elliptical shapes likely due to a central gravity well (i.e. supermassive black hole), but some form irregular shapes (especially if they are broken away from another galaxy).
- our Milky Way galaxy
[edit] Synonyms
- (astronomy): G (abbreviation)
[edit] Related terms
[edit] Derived terms
- spiral galaxy
- elliptical galaxy
- lenticular galaxy
- irregular galaxy
- dwarf galaxy
- active galaxy
- galaxy nucleus
- galaxy cluster / cluster of galaxies
- galaxy supercluster / supercluster of galaxies
- filament of galaxies / galaxy filament
- wall of galaxies / galaxy wall
- sheet of galaxies / galaxy sheet
[edit] Translations
collection of billions of stars, galactic dust, black holes, etc
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the Milky Way
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