galaxy

== English == === Alternative forms === (Milky Way Galaxy): Galaxy === Etymology === From Middle English galaxye, galaxie, from Old French galaxie, from Latin galaxias, from Ancient Greek γαλαξίας (galaxías, “Milky Way”), shortening of γαλαξίας κύκλος (galaxías kúklos, “milky circle”), from γάλα (gála, “milk”). === Pronunciation === (Received Pronunciation, General American, Canada, General Australian) IPA(key): /ˈɡæl.ək.si/ (New Zealand) IPA(key): /ˈɡɛl.ək.si/ === Noun === galaxy (plural galaxies) (now rare) The Milky Way; the apparent band of concentrated stars which appears in the night sky over earth. [from 14th c.] (astronomy) Any of the collections of many millions or billions of stars, galactic dust, black holes, etc. existing as independent and coherent systems, of which there are billions in the known universe. [from 19th c.] (figuratively) An assemblage of things or people seen as luminous or brilliant. (fashion, design) Any print or pattern reminiscent of a galaxy, generally consisting of blending, semiopaque patches of vibrant color on a dark background. ==== Synonyms ==== (astronomy): G (abbreviation), star city, trichiliocosm (in Buddhism) ==== Hyponyms ==== ==== Derived terms ==== ==== Related terms ==== ==== Descendants ==== → Swahili: galaksi ==== Translations ==== === Verb === galaxy (third-person singular simple present galaxies, present participle galaxying, simple past and past participle galaxied) (transitive) To furnish with galaxies. (archaic, transitive) To gather together into a luminous whole. === References === galaxy on Wikipedia.Wikipedia