interstellar space
4
6.0
- noun
- /ˌɪntərˈstɛlər speɪs/
- Specialized
:
espacio interestelar
- The prospect of leaving the solar system and exploring interstellar space was not really on his mind.
- gas in interstellar space
Could you tell that you're in orbit and not somewhere in interstellar space?
- Could you tell that you're in orbit and not somewhere in interstellar space?
- That you know you should welcome visitors, especially if they come from interstellar space.
- Do you think Area X transverses interstellar space wormholes?
Examples
-
Radio astronomy also has revolutionized our understanding of interstellar space.
Academic text (1996) -
The high radio frequencies travel faster through the thin plasma of interstellar space than the lower frequencies.
Academic text (2001) -
So this is a region of interstellar space around our home system.
Blog text (12) -
Imagine out there in interstellar space near vacuum, nothing much going on.
-
Most of the gas in interstellar space is cool, dense, and dark.
Academic text (1991) -
No one really knows just what the boundary with interstellar space is like.
Blog text (8) -
Stars fill up an extraordinarily tiny volume of interstellar space.
Academic text (2000) -
How will you know when you have crossed the heliopause and are heading into interstellar space?
Blog text (1) -
Interstellar space contains a fine soot, about two dust grains per million cubic meters.
Academic text (1991) -
In August 2012, Voyager 1 passed out of the solar system and into interstellar space.
Synonyms
∞
2.0
The region beyond Earth's atmosphere where stars and planets are
91
3.0
The area beyond Earth's air where there is almost no air and you find stars and planets
25
6.4
An area far beyond the solar system, between stars and galaxies
1
7.7
The gas and dust that fill the space between stars in a galaxy
How Empty
- Specialized
1
7.5
- Specialized
4
6.0
- Specialized
1
7.5
406
3.5
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is transparently compositional: 'interstellar' means 'between the stars' and 'space' means the physical cosmos, so 'interstellar space' straightforwardly denotes the space between stars. This literal, predictable combination follows common cross-linguistic patterns, so a B1 learner who knows the constituents should understand it.
Etymology
The noun interstellar space comes from two parts: inter meaning 'between' and stellar meaning 'star'. So it literally names the 'space between the stars', which is why we use it for the area of space found between stars.