Nova Definition

nōvə
novae, novas
noun
A type of variable star that suddenly increases in brightness by thousands of times, up to 14 magnitudes, and then decreases in brightness over a period of months to years.
Webster's New World
Salmon that has been lightly cured and smoked.
American Heritage

(astronomy) Any sudden brightening of a previously inconspicuous star.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Nova

Noun

Singular:
nova
Plural:
novae, novas

Origin of Nova

  • Feminine nominative singular of the Latin adjective novus (new). The feminine is used since the Latin word for star, stella is feminine; thus nova is a shortening of nova stella (new star).

    From Wiktionary

  • New Latin (stēlla) nova new (star), nova feminine of Latin novus new newo- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • After Nova Scotia once the source of much of the salmon sold in New York City

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Find Similar Words

Find similar words to nova using the buttons below.

Words Starting With

Words Ending With

Unscrambles

nova