noun
supernova
soo-puh-NOH-vuh
noun
1
A massive star that explodes in a huge burst of brightness, leaving behind a neutron star, a black hole, or nothing at all.
"Astronomers spotted a supernova in a distant galaxy last night."
"The supernova briefly outshone its entire host galaxy."
2
Something dazzling or spectacular.
"Her debut album was a supernova on the charts."
How to Use Supernova
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe massive, brilliant explosion that marks the death of a large star.
Common pairings
a supernova explosion
go supernova
Word Forms
supernovae plural, supernovæ plural, supernovas plural
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Etymology
From super- + nova (Latin for "new") — a "new star" that appears far brighter than an ordinary one.