galaxy

[gal-uh k-see] /ˈgæl ək si/
noun, plural galaxies.
1.
Astronomy.
  1. a large system of stars held together by mutual gravitation and isolated from similar systems by vast regions of space.
  2. (usually initial capital letter) Milky Way.
2.
any large and brilliant or impressive assemblage of persons or things:
a galaxy of opera stars.
Origin
1350-1400; Middle English galaxie, galaxias < Medieval Latin galaxia, galaxias, ultimately < Greek galaxías kýklos the Milky Way; see galacto-
Examples from the web for galaxy
  • The encounter of two galaxies left a ring-shaped galaxy and a long-tailed companion.
  • In the long run, a galaxy of virtual worlds will benefit all of us.
  • So either that understanding is flawed, or there is more to the average galaxy than meets the eye.
  • Astronomers think such collisions are critical to galaxy formation and evolution.
  • Astronomers believe they may have discovered the first planet ever detected in another galaxy.
  • The farther away a galaxy is, the faster it is receding and the bigger this red shift will be.
  • It will have a central place in the galaxy of computing devices for some time to come.
  • New studies track the motion of stars to pin down what holds sway at the heart of our galaxy.
  • The galaxy orientation might help, depending on where your new friends came from and perhaps their visual spectral range.
  • From our vantage point, a second galaxy happens to be behind the first galaxy.
British Dictionary definitions for galaxy

galaxy

/ˈɡæləksɪ/
noun (pl) -axies
1.
any of a vast number of star systems held together by gravitational attraction in an asymmetric shape (an irregular galaxy) or, more usually, in a symmetrical shape (a regular galaxy), which is either a spiral or an ellipse Former names island universe, extragalactic nebula, related adjective galactic
2.
a splendid gathering, esp one of famous or distinguished people
Word Origin
C14 (in the sense: the Milky Way), from Medieval Latin galaxia, from Latin galaxias, from Greek, from gala milk; related to Latin lac milk

Galaxy

/ˈɡæləksɪ/
noun
1.
the Galaxy, the spiral galaxy, approximately 100 000 light years in diameter, that contains the solar system about three fifths of the distance from its centre Also known as the Milky Way System See also Magellanic Cloud
Word Origin and History for galaxy
n.

late 14c., from Old French galaxie, from Late Latin galaxias "Milky Way," from Greek galaxias (adj.), in galaxias kyklos, literally "milky circle," from gala (genitive galaktos) "milk" (see lactation). The technical astronomical sense emerged 1848. Figurative sense of "brilliant assembly of persons" is from 1580s. Milky Way is a translation of Latin via lactea.

See yonder, lo, the Galaxyë Which men clepeth the Milky Wey, For hit is whyt. [Chaucer, "House of Fame"]
Astronomers began to speculate by mid-19c. that some of the spiral nebulae they could see in telescopes were actually immense and immensely distant structures the size and shape of the Milky Way. But the matter was not settled until the 1920s.

galaxy in Science
galaxy
(gāl'ək-sē)

  1. Any of numerous large-scale collections of stars, gas, and dust that make up the visible universe. Galaxies are held together by the gravitational attraction of the material contained within them, and most are organized around a galactic nucleus into elliptical or spiral shapes, with a small percentage of galaxies classed as irregular in shape. A galaxy may range in diameter from some hundreds of light-years for the smallest dwarfs to hundreds of thousands of light-years for the largest ellipticals, and may contain from a few million to several trillion stars. Many galaxies are grouped into clusters, with the clusters themselves often grouped into larger superclusters. See more at active galaxy, See also elliptical galaxy, irregular galaxy, lenticular galaxy, spiral galaxy.

  2. the Galaxy. The Milky Way.


galaxy in Culture

galaxy definition


A large, self-contained mass of stars.

Note: A common form for galaxies is a bright center with spiral arms radiating outward.
Note: The universe contains billions of galaxies.
Note: The sun belongs to the galaxy called the Milky Way.
galaxy in Technology
language
An extensible language in the vein of EL/1 and RCC.
["Introduction to the Galaxy Language", Anne F. Beetem et al, IEEE Software 6(3):55-62].
(1995-12-09)