# nova

/ˈnoʊvə/ (US) · /nˈəʊvɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/nova
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. astronomy

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a star that suddenly gets much brighter for a few days or weeks and then slowly fades away.

For teachers: a transient astronomical event where a star's brightness increases by several magnitudes due to an explosion on its surface.

- The astronomer spent the night recording the light coming from the new nova.
- The discovery of a nova in the Andromeda Galaxy provided researchers with a rare opportunity to study the dynamics of binary star systems.

Usage: Countable; the plural is usually 'novae' in scientific contexts or 'novas' in general use.

### 2. food

noun · CEFR C2 · American English

a type of smoked salmon that is cured in a specific way.

For teachers: a style of smoked salmon, originally from Nova Scotia, that is cured in a mild brine before being cold-smoked.

- He ordered a bagel with cream cheese and nova for breakfast.
- The deli is famous for its hand-sliced nova, which is prized for its delicate texture and subtle saltiness compared to traditional lox.

Usage: Uncountable; often used as a modifier before other nouns like 'salmon'.

## Examples

- The astronomer spent the night observing a new nova.
- Amateur stargazers were the first to report the nova appearing in the northern sky last Tuesday.
- Unlike a supernova, which marks the final destruction of a star, a nova is a recurring surface phenomenon that leaves the underlying white dwarf intact for future cycles.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.