nova

 
Pronunciation: /ˈnəʊvə/

noun (plural novae /-viː/ or novas)

Astronomy
  • a star showing a sudden large increase in brightness and then slowly returning to its original state over a few months. See also supernova.

Origin:

late 19th century: from Latin, feminine of novus 'new' (because such stars were thought to be newly formed)