Spiral galaxys are divided into three main types depending on how tightly wound their spiral arms are: Sa, Sb and Sc. Spiral galaxies range from large … More from Merriam-Webster on spiral galaxy, Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about spiral galaxy. What made you want to look up spiral galaxy? We Asked, You Answered. Accessed 29 Nov. 2020. Barred spiral galaxy definition, a spiral galaxy whose center has the form of an extended bar. Most of the galaxies that scientists have discovered so … (Astronomy) a galaxy consisting of an ellipsoidal nucleus of old stars from opposite sides of which arms, containing younger stars, spiral outwards around the nucleus. When artists draw galaxies, spirals are what they first visualize. a galaxy consisting of an ellipsoidal nucleus of old stars from opposite sides of which arms, containing younger stars, spiral outwards around the nucleus. “Spiral galaxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiral%20galaxy. Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way. The bulge of a spiral galaxy is composed primarily of old, red stars. Spiral galaxy definition is - a galaxy exhibiting a central nucleus or barred structure from which extend curved arms of higher luminosity —called also spiral nebula. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins The Popular Story About Black Friday’s Name Is A Myth, American Presidents Helped These Words Join Our Everyday Vocabulary. “Affect” vs. “Effect”: Use The Correct Word Every Time, 7 Tips For Compiling And Creating Writing Samples That Stand Out. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Examples of how to use “spiral galaxy” in a sentence from the Cambridge Dictionary Labs Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012. See more. Milky Way Galaxy (sometimes simply called the Galaxy), large spiral system of about several hundred billion stars, one of which is the Sun. A spiral galaxy consists of a bulge of stars at the centre with a vast disc of stars orbiting around the central group. Spiral galaxy definition: a galaxy consisting of an ellipsoidal nucleus of old stars from opposite sides of which... | Meaning, pronunciation, translations and examples A galaxy with poorly defined arms is sometimes referred to as a flocculent spiral galaxy; in contrast to the grand design spiral galaxy that has prominent and well-defined spiral arms. Delivered to your inbox! 'Nip it in the butt' or 'Nip it in the bud'. Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020, Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition Their shapes are the result of long galactic evolution activities that astronomers are still working to understand. Copyright © 2011. In a barred spiral the arms originate at the ends of a bar-shaped nucleus The arms of a spiral galaxy have lots of gas and dust, and they are often areas where new stars are constantly forming. This is likely due to the fact that the Milky Way is a spiral; as is the neighboring Andromeda Galaxy. A spherical, relatively dust-free region known as a, ♦ A spiral galaxy whose central bulge has the shape of a bar from whose ends the spiral arms emanate is called a. To cook in water that begins cold and then reaches a boil. “Epidemic” vs. “Pandemic” vs. “Endemic”: What Do These Terms Mean? A spiral galaxy is a galaxy that is shaped like a spiral, with a bulge in the center. Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words? Build a city of skyscrapers—one synonym at a time. You may have read the word "simmer" in a recipe or two, but what does it really mean? Spiral galaxies are among the most beautiful and plentiful galaxy types in the cosmos. All rights reserved. Spiral galaxies are twisted collections of stars and gas that often have beautiful shapes and are made up of hot young stars. Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free! [ spī ′rəl ] A galaxy consisting of a rotating flattened disk with an ellipsoidal central bulge from which extend a pattern of two or more luminous spiral arms. The speed in which a galaxy rotates is thought to correlate with the flatness of the disc as some spiral galaxies have thick bulges, while others are thin and dense. The majority of the mass of a spiral galaxy is contained in its bulge, made up mostly of old stars, while the arms are composed mostly of younger stars and large amounts of interstellar gas and dust. The table below shows the abbreviations that are used for spiral galaxy … spiral galaxy n a galaxy consisting of an ellipsoidal nucleus of old stars from opposite sides of which arms, containing younger stars, spiral outwards around the nucleus. spiral galaxy. In a spiral galaxy, the stars, gas and dust are gathered in spiral arms that spread outward from the galaxy's center. Why Do “Left” And “Right” Mean Liberal And Conservative? Send us feedback. Learn a new word every day. Very little star formation goes on in the bulge. Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible). spiral galaxy. Even if you can't be a professional chef, you can at least talk like one with this vocabulary quiz. In a, A galaxy consisting of a rotating flattened disk with an ellipsoidal central bulge from which extend a pattern of two or more luminous spiral arms. Elliptical galaxy definition is - a galaxy that has a generally elliptical shape and that has no apparent internal structure or spiral arms —called also elliptical. 'All Intensive Purposes' or 'All Intents and Purposes'? In a barred spiral, the arms originate at the ends of a bar-shaped nucleus. Dictionary.com Unabridged Spiral galaxies range from large bulges with tightly wound arms (classified as Sa) to small bulges with loosely wound arms (classified as Sc and in some cases Sd). On in the butt ' or 'nip it in the bud ' due to the that! Look up spiral galaxy. you read or heard it ( including the quote, if possible.! Bright line going through its center working to understand one with this Vocabulary quiz 'spiral galaxy. activities. 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