Milky Way

noun

1
: a broad luminous irregular band of light that stretches completely around the celestial sphere and is caused by the light of myriads of faint stars
2
: milky way galaxy

Examples of Milky Way in a Sentence

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Either way, the observations emphasize the fact that our Milky Way galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy have experienced significantly different histories. — Keith Cooper, Space.com, 28 Feb. 2025 In fact, observations of these masers have proved that our Milky Way is a magnificent example of a spiral galaxy. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 20 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of Milky Way was in the 14th century

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“Milky Way.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Milky%20Way. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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Kids Definition

Milky Way

noun
1
: a broad band of light that stretches across the sky and is caused by the light of a very great number of faint stars
2
: milky way galaxy
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