nova
[ noh-vuh ]
/ ˈnoʊ və /
noun, plural no·vas, no·vae [noh-vee] /ˈnoʊ vi/. Astronomy.
a star that suddenly becomes thousands of times brighter and then gradually fades to its original intensity.
Compare
supernova.
Origin of nova
1680–90; < New Latin: noun use of feminine of Latin
novus
new
OTHER WORDS FROM nova
no·va·like, adjectiveWords nearby nova
Definition for nova (2 of 2)
Nova
[ noh-vuh ]
/ ˈnoʊ və /
noun
Also called Nova Salmon.
a Pacific salmon cured in the style of Nova Scotia salmon.
(lowercase)
(loosely) any smoked salmon.
Compare
Nova Scotia salmon.
Example sentences from the Web for nova
British Dictionary definitions for nova
nova
/ (ˈnəʊvə) /
noun plural -vae (-viː) or -vas
a variable star that undergoes a cataclysmic eruption, observed as a sudden large increase in brightness with a subsequent decline over months or years; it is a close binary system with one component a white dwarf
Compare supernova
Word Origin for nova
C19: New Latin
nova (
stella) new (star), from Latin
novus new
Scientific definitions for nova
nova
[ nō′və ]
Plural novae (nō′vē) novas
A white dwarf star that suddenly and temporarily becomes extremely bright as a result of the explosion at its surface of material accreted from an expanding companion star. The material, mostly hydrogen and helium, is attracted by the white dwarf's gravity and accumulates under growing pressure and heat until nuclear fusion is ignited. Unlike a supernova, a nova is not blown apart by the explosion and gradually returns to its original brightness over a period of weeks to years. Because of their sudden appearance where no star had been previously visible, novae were long thought to be new stars. Since 1925, novae have been classified as variable stars. Compare supernova.