spiral galaxy

noun

: a galaxy exhibiting a central nucleus or barred structure from which extend curved arms of higher luminosity

called also spiral nebula

Examples of spiral galaxy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The fuzzy blob at the top resolves into a distant spiral galaxy unrelated to the object itself. Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 12 Aug. 2025 What looks like a giant glowing penguin or a jumping porpoise was actually once a normal spiral galaxy, named NGC 2936, that got too close to its neighbor. Katie Liu, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2025 The next best option for astronomers is gazing at similar nearby spiral galaxies, the closest of which is Messier 31. Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 26 June 2025 Some ten million light-years away from Earth sits a brilliant spiral galaxy officially called NGC 253 but known by many different names: Caldwell 65, Silver Dollar Galaxy, the Silver Coin. Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for spiral galaxy

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spiral galaxy was in 1913

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Cite this Entry

“Spiral galaxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiral%20galaxy. Accessed 20 Aug. 2025.

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