Milky Way

== English == === Etymology === From Middle English Milky Wey, a calque of Latin Via Lactea (literally “milky road”), a calque of Ancient Greek γαλαξίας (galaxías), referring to its appearance as a pale band of stars across the sky. Compare also Old English Īringes weġ (“Milky Way”), Old Norse Mjólkrhringr (“Milky Way”, literally “milk-ring, milk-circle”). The reference to the galaxy is an extension of the second sense. === Pronunciation === === Proper noun === the Milky Way (astronomy) The Milky Way Galaxy, the galaxy in which Earth is located. [from mid 19th c.] Synonyms: Milky Way Galaxy, Local Galaxy, Galaxy Holonyms: Local Group < Virgo Supercluster < Laniakea < Universe Meronyms: Earth < Solar System < Orion Arm (astronomy) A broad band of diffuse white light, visible in the night sky; our view of the dense portions of the Milky Way Galaxy from inside the galaxy. [from late 14th c.] Synonyms: Silvery River, Great Sky River ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Translations ==== === References === === Further reading === Milky Way on Wikipedia.Wikipedia “Milky Way”, in OneLook Dictionary Search. “Milky Way”, in Merriam-Webster.com Online Dictionary, Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster, 1996–present.