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A faint, cloudlike, self-luminous mass of matter situated beyond the solar system among the stars. True nebulæ are gaseous; but very distant star clusters often appear like them in the telescope.

Of or pertaining to nebulæ; of the nature of, or resembling, a nebula. Nebular hypothesis, an hypothesis to explain the process of formation of the stars and planets, presented in various forms by Kant, Herschel, Laplace, and others. As formed by Laplace, it supposed the matter of the solar system to have existed origi…

Clouded with indistinct color markings, as an animal.

The condition of being nebulated; also, a clouded, or ill- defined, color mark.

Annular condition or form; as, the annularity of a nebula. J. Rogers.

The stuff of which a nebula is formed.

Of, pertaining to, or having the appearance of, a nebula; nebular; cloudlike. -- Neb"u*lous*ly, adv. -- Neb"u*lous*ness, n.

A nebula. (b) pl.

ellation on the equator, between the stars Aldebaran and Sirius. It contains a remarkable nebula visible to the naked eye. The flaming glories of Orion's belt. E. Everett.

here, near Taurus and Cassiopea. It contains a star cluster visible to the naked eye as a nebula.

hared among the planets known to the ancients, each having its day. Hutton. -- Planetary nebula, a nebula exhibiting a uniform disk, like that of a planet.

t for the single one; -- the opposite of Ant: composition of a force. -- Resolution of a nebula (Astron.), the exhibition of it to the eye by a telescope of such power as to show it to be composed of small stars.

To relax; to lay at ease. [Obs.] B. Jonson. To resolve a nebula.(Astron.) See Resolution of a nebula, under Resolution.