Word
supernova
Phoneticssu·per·no·va
US/ˌsupɝˈnoʊvə/
UK/sˈuːpənˈəʊvɐ/
Definition
n. a massive star that explodes at the end of its life. This explosion is incredibly bright and can briefly shine more than an entire galaxy.
n. the cataclysmic explosion of a massive star, resulting in a sudden and immense increase in luminosity. Occurs when a star exhausts its nuclear fuel and collapses under its own gravity.
Examples
“The telescope captured a clear image of the supernova.”
“Astronomers observed a distant supernova that appeared as a bright new point of light in the night sky.”
“The heavy elements necessary for life were forged in the intense heat of a supernova and scattered across the universe by the resulting shockwave.”
Examples
simple
“The telescope captured a clear image of the supernova.”
contextual
“Astronomers observed a distant supernova that appeared as a bright new point of light in the night sky.”
complex
“The heavy elements necessary for life were forged in the intense heat of a supernova and scattered across the universe by the resulting shockwave.”
Usage
The plural form can be either 'supernovas' or 'supernovae'.
Real-World Examples
Common in science and technology writing
“Astronomers have linked an X-ray flash discovered by the Einstein Probe to a known type of supernova with unusual features that point to the birth of an ultra-dense, rapidly spinning magnetar.” “This discovery suggests that the slightly younger stars formed after an earlier generation of massive stars ended their lives in powerful supernova explosions.” “Stars this massive burn through their fuel quickly, meaning they will eventually end their lives in spectacular supernova explosions that help seed future generations of stars with heavy elements.” “They wondered whether it was a sign that the star was about to go supernova.” Etymology
From super- + nova.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/supernova