/ ˈnebjələ; NAmE / noun
( pl. nebu·lae / -liː; NAmE /) ( astronomy ) a mass of dust or gas that can be seen in the night sky, often appearing very bright; a bright area in the night sky caused by a large cloud of stars that are far away
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent. (as a medical term): from Latin , literally mist .