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elliptical galaxy

noun

Updated on: 31 Mar 2018

Definition of elliptical galaxy

: a galaxy that has a generally elliptical shape and that has no apparent internal structure or spiral arms — called also elliptical; compare spiral galaxy

Recent Examples of elliptical galaxy from the Web

Thirteen million light years away, a handful of relatively small galaxies revolve in a disk around the larger elliptical galaxy Centaurus A. There's nothing unusual about a collection of small galaxies orbiting a large one.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "New observations of galaxies challenge the standard cosmological model," 1 Feb. 2018
In 2009, a combination of optical and radio telescope observations produced this image of a spiral galaxy and an elliptical galaxy gradually becoming one, 13 million light years from Earth.

— TIME.com, "The human species is ever-changing and with it our view of the universe.," 25 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'elliptical galaxy.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of elliptical galaxy

1948

in the meaning defined above

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