Meaning & Definition of word "Supernova"

noun:

• 1. A star that suddenly increases greatly in brightness because of a catastrophic explosion that ejects most of its mass.
  • Example: The supernova of the star was visible from Earth with unprecedented brightness.
• 2. A stellar explosion that often results in the formation of a neutron star or a black hole.
  • Example: Astronomers observed the remnants of a supernova, marking the end of a massive star's life cycle.
• 3. An event that marks the death of a star and the release of energy that can outshine an entire galaxy for a short period.
  • Example: The supernova occurred in a distant galaxy, providing insights into the universe's evolution.
• 4. A phenomenon that produces important chemical elements through the nucleosynthesis occurring in the explosion.
  • Example: The supernova enriched the surrounding interstellar medium with heavy elements like gold and uranium.