supernova

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   an extremely energetic stellar explosion that makes a star suddenly become vastly more luminous

   The supernova briefly outshone the other stars in its host galaxy.

2. 2
   noun

   a person or thing of exceptional brilliance, prominence, or explosive success

   The young striker became the league's newest supernova.

Formed from super- ("above; greater") + nova. Walter Baade and Fritz Zwicky introduced the astronomical term in the 1930s for stellar explosions far more luminous than ordinary novae.

Topics

External links

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• Cambridge Dictionary
• Wiktionary