Meanings
nounprotoplanetary nebula (plural protoplanetary nebulae or protoplanetary nebulas)
plural protoplanetary nebulae · plural protoplanetary nebulas
- astronomyA stage in stellar evolution when a star starts to shed its outer layers before coming a true planetary nebula.
Synonyms: preplanetary nebula
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA stage in stellar evolution when a star starts to shed its outer layers before coming a true planetary nebula.
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Also see
Origin
Translations
Finnish esiplanetaarinen sumu
- esiplanetaarinen sumustage in stellar evolution
Polish mgławica protoplanetarna
- mgławica protoplanetarnastage in stellar evolution
Cite this entry
APA
protoplanetary nebula. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protoplanetary%20nebula
MLA
“protoplanetary nebula.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protoplanetary%20nebula. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “protoplanetary nebula,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/protoplanetary%20nebula.
Source: protoplanetary nebula on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.