I. ˈnō-və noun
( plural novas or no·vae -(ˌ)vē, -ˌvī)
Etymology: New Latin, feminine of Latin novus new
Date: 1927
: a star that suddenly increases its light output tremendously and then fades away to its former obscurity in a few months or years
• no·va·like -və-ˌlīk adjective
II. noun
Usage: often capitalized
Etymology: short for Nova Scotia salmon
Date: 1964
: cured and smoked salmon ; especially : salmon that has been cured in a mixture of salt and sugar and smoked at a low temperature