What does nova mean?
A nova is a star that briefly becomes much brighter before fading back toward its previous luminosity. The increase in brightness is generally caused by material transferred from a companion star, or in some systems by activity within the star itself, producing a temporary but powerful release of energy. Novas are distinct from supernovae: a nova is normally a temporary brightening of an existing star, while a supernova is the explosive destruction of a star. The word comes from Latin, where nova means “new,” reflecting the old astronomical description of a nova as a “new star.” In modern astronomy, “nova” is the technical term for this class of stellar eruption, though it can also refer more broadly to a newly discovered or suddenly prominent stellar object in older usage.
nounA star that suddenly becomes much brighter and then gradually fades. In astronomy, a nova is a star whose surface briefly brightens because of a rapid increase in energy release, often following the transfer of material from a companion star.
- A star that undergoes a temporary, dramatic increase in brightness before gradually fading.
"Telescopes observed a brilliant nova in the galaxy before it slowly faded."
"The nova was visible to the naked eye for several days."
"Astronomers used the eruption to study how material is transferred in a binary-star system."
“Novas” is the standard English plural. “Novae” is common in formal astronomical writing and follows the Latin plural form.
"The survey detected several novas in the same region of the galaxy."
The word nova is Latin for “new”: astronomers once called these sudden celestial brightenings “new stars,” even though the star itself was ancient.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does nova come from?
Nova is Latin for “new,” an adjective derived from novus, meaning “new.” Early astronomers used the term for a star that appeared suddenly in the sky and then became faint again. The word is cognate with English forms such as novel, novice, renovate, and innovation, all of which ultimately reflect the same Latin root.
Related word forms
How nova is actually used
The term is primarily astronomical. In formal astronomical writing, “novae” may be used as the Latinized plural, while “novas” is standard in general usage.
Easily confused with nova
A nova is a temporary brightening of an existing star, whereas a supernova is the catastrophic explosion and destruction of a star.