neb·u·la (n b y -l)n. pl. neb·u·lae (-l   ) or neb·u·las 1. Astronomy a. A diffuse mass of interstellar dust or gas or both, visible as luminous patches or areas of darkness depending on the way the mass absorbs or reflects incident radiation. b. See galaxy. 2. Pathology a. A cloudy spot on the cornea. b. Cloudiness in the urine. 3. A liquid medication applied by spraying. [Middle English nebule, cloud, mist, from Latin nebula; see nebh- in Indo-European roots.] neb u·lar adj. |
nebula [ˈnɛbjʊlə]
n pl -lae [-ˌliː], -las
1. (Astronomy) Astronomy a diffuse cloud of particles and gases (mainly hydrogen) that is visible either as a hazy patch of light (either an emission or a reflection nebula) or an irregular dark region against a brighter background (dark nebula) Compare planetary nebula
2. (Medicine / Pathology) Pathol
a. opacity of the cornea
b. cloudiness of the urine
3. (Medicine) any substance for use in an atomizer spray
[from Latin: mist, cloud; related to Greek nephétē cloud, Old High German nebul cloud, Old Norse njól night]
nebular adj
| nebula (nby-l) Plural nebulae (n by-l) or nebulas A visible, thinly spread cloud of interstellar gas and dust. Some nebulae are the remnants of a supernova explosion, others are gravity-induced condensations of the gases in the interstellar medium which in certain cases may become a site for the formation of new stars. The term was formerly used of any hazy, seemingly cloudlike object, including what are now recognized as other galaxies beyond the Milky Way; it is restricted now to actual clouds of gas and dust within our own galaxy.  Nebulae are generally classified as bright or dark. Among the bright nebulae are cold clouds that reflect light from nearby stars (reflection nebulae) and hot, ionized clouds that glow with their own light (emission nebulae). Dark nebulae cold clouds that absorb the passing light from background starsare called absorption nebulae. See more at star. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. |  nebula - a medicinal liquid preparation intended for use in an atomizerformulation, preparation - a substance prepared according to a formula; "the physician prescribed a commercial preparation of the medicine" |
| 2. | nebula - cloudiness of the urine symptom - (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease | |
| 3. | nebula - an immense cloud of gas (mainly hydrogen) and dust in interstellar space diffuse nebula, gaseous nebula - a cluster of stars within an intricate cloud of gas and dust planetary nebula - a nebula that was once thought to be a star with its planets but is now thought to be a very hot star surrounded by an expanding envelope of ionized gases that emit a fluorescent glow because of intense radiation from the star cloud - any collection of particles (e.g., smoke or dust) or gases that is visible | |
| 4. | nebula - (pathology) a faint cloudy spot on the cornea maculation, patch, speckle, dapple, fleck, spot - a small contrasting part of something; "a bald spot"; "a leopard's spots"; "a patch of clouds"; "patches of thin ice"; "a fleck of red" pathology - the branch of medical science that studies the causes and nature and effects of diseases |
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