nova en · NOUN · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- /ˈnoʊ.və/ (US)
- /ˈnəʊ.və/ (UK)
- (US) audio
Etymology
Feminine nominative singular of Latin novus (“new”). The feminine is used since stella (“star”) is feminine; thus nova is a shortening of nova stella (“new star”), first used in this sense in 1573 by Tycho Brahe.
Meanings
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Any sudden brightening of a previously inconspicuous star.
In these stellar pairings, if the two stars are close together, the white dwarf will siphon mass away from its companion and have an outburst called a nova. And when the white dwarf accumulates too much mass, it will collapse and explode in a supernova.
2024 August 21, Ashley Strickland, “An unusual object is moving so fast it could escape the Milky Way. Scientists aren’t certain what it is”, in CNN, archived from the original on 24 Sep 2024:
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(abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Ellipsis of classical nova
alt of classical nova
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| novae | Number=Plur | lexicographic | |
| novas | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Coordinates
transient · cataclysmic variable
Deriveds
micronova · nova-like · novalike · supernova · macronova · quark nova · millinova · nova remnant · classical nova · hypernova · supernova imposter · dwarf nova · failed supernova · stellar nova · red nova · unnova · kilonova · recurrent nova · supernova remnant
Relateds
preplanetary nebula · novel · plerion · protoplanetary nebula · novum · planetary nebula
Translations (25)
ru но́вая звезда́ (sudden brightening of a star) · it nova (sudden brightening of a star) · de Nova (sudden brightening of a star) · el νεολαμπής (sudden brightening of a star) · sk nova (sudden brightening of a star) · gl nova (sudden brightening of a star) · sl nóva (sudden brightening of a star) · ru но́ва (sudden brightening of a star) · fr nova (sudden brightening of a star) · es nova (sudden brightening of a star) · eo novao (sudden brightening of a star) · ro novă (sudden brightening of a star) · ja 新星 (sudden brightening of a star) · ko 신성 (sudden brightening of a star) · el καινοφανής (sudden brightening of a star) · ru но́вая (sudden brightening of a star) · pt nova (sudden brightening of a star) · bg нова звезда (sudden brightening of a star) · el νόβα (sudden brightening of a star) · fa نواختر (sudden brightening of a star) · cmn 新星 (sudden brightening of a star) · vi tân tinh (sudden brightening of a star) · fi nova (sudden brightening of a star) · pl nowa (sudden brightening of a star) · ar مُسْتَعِر (sudden brightening of a star)