Nebula
|neb-u-la|
🇺🇸
/ˈnɛbjələ/
🇬🇧
/ˈnɛbjʊlə/
(nebula)
cloud-like mass
Etymology
'Nebula' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'nebula', where 'nebula' meant 'mist, vapor, or cloud.'
'Nebula' changed from Latin 'nebula' (used in Classical and Medieval Latin) and entered English via Medieval/Scientific Latin and New Latin usage, eventually becoming the modern English word 'nebula'.
Initially, it meant 'mist or fog' in general usage, but over time it evolved into the specialized current meaning of 'a cloudlike mass in space' (though it still retains broader senses).
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an interstellar cloud of gas and dust, often visible as a diffuse or glowing region in space (astronomical sense).
The Orion Nebula is one of the brightest nebulae visible from Earth.
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Noun 2
a cloudlike or indistinct mass or formation (not necessarily astronomical), e.g., a mist or smoke bank.
A pale nebula of smoke drifted over the ruined buildings.
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Noun 3
a vague, unclear, or ill-defined idea or impression (figurative use).
He had only a nebula of an idea about how the system worked.
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Last updated: 2025/10/12 04:24