spiral galaxy

noun

: a galaxy exhibiting a central nucleus or barred structure from which extend curved arms of higher luminosity

called also spiral nebula

Examples of spiral galaxy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Astronomers have discovered the most distant and thus earliest spiral galaxy ever seen, using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Robert Lea, Space.com, 16 Apr. 2025 Discovery of an ultra-massive grand-design spiral galaxy at z ∼ 5.2. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 Apr. 2025 In spiral galaxies, for example, less gas tends to fall into the center, and the central black hole tends to have less energy. David Garofalo, The Conversation, 31 Mar. 2025 In fact, previously, such extreme jets had only ever been observed in spiral galaxies. Kevin Sabet, Newsweek, 24 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for spiral galaxy

Word History

First Known Use

1913, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of spiral galaxy was in 1913

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Cite this Entry

“Spiral galaxy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spiral%20galaxy. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.

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