Nebula
/ˈnɛb.jʊ.lə/noun
A cloud of gas and dust in space, often forming stars or planets.
Did you know?The word 'nebula' comes from ancient roots that mean 'mist' or 'cloud', linking to ideas of creation and transformation in the cosmos.
Etymological Timeline
Latin
Latin
nebula
“mist or cloud, often used to describe the celestial haze in the sky.”
Medieval Latin
Medieval Latin
nebula
“used in astronomy to denote a cloudy or fuzzy object in the night sky.”
17th Century
English
nebula
“adopted into English to refer to any celestial cloud or haze.”
Modern English
English
nebula
“now specifically denotes interstellar clouds of gas and dust in astronomy.”