What does supernova mean?
Word: Supernova
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Supernova means a star that explodes and for a short time shines far brighter than usual.
Word origin: A modern Latin term first used by astronomers in the 1930s.
How do you spell supernova?
Syllables: su - per - no - va
Tricky part: The word ends in a plain vowel with nothing after it, so supernovar and supernovah are both wrong.
Watch out for: supernovar, supernovah, supernover
Memory tip: In your head, finish the word with a loud aah of wonder at the flash, and that final vowel will stay clean.
Supernova in a sentence
Example 1: A supernova can outshine an entire galaxy for a few weeks.
Example 2: Zoya's science magazine had a glowing picture of a supernova on its cover.
Example 3: Some of the iron in our planet's rocks was made inside a star before a supernova scattered it.
Fun Fact
Chinese astronomers recorded a supernova in the year 1054 that could be seen in daylight for about three weeks; its remains are now called the Crab Nebula.
Practise the CREST Way
Jumble Tumble
Choose the correct sequence of the jumbled letters to form a meaningful word:
ovnaeusrp 123456789
a) 769583124
b) 456927138
c) 381752964
d) 813975264
Show answer
a) 769583124. Taking the letters in that order spells supernova; no other order offered makes a word.
Word Fusion
Read the clue and choose the two parts that make the word:
__________ means a sudden, huge blaze of light from a far-off sun. 1. Super 2. Astro 3. Hyper 4. Ultra 5. nova 6. naut 7. sonic 8. bole
a) 3 and 8
b) 4 and 7
c) 1 and 5
d) 2 and 6
Show answer
c) 1 and 5. Astronaut, ultrasonic and hyperbole are real words too, but none of them fits this clue.
Word Champ
In which option are the given words arranged in alphabetical order?
1. supervise 2. supernatural 3. superstition 4. supernova
a) 2431
b) 2341
c) 4321
d) 4231
Show answer
a) 2431. All four open alike, so the next letters decide: n comes before s, s before v, and in the n pair a comes before o.
Word Puzzle
Match each word with its meaning:
1. supernova 2. nebula 3. comet a. a far-off star's brief, dazzling blast b. an icy body with a long glowing tail near the Sun c. a huge cloud of gas and dust among the stars
a) 1-c, 2-a, 3-b
b) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b
c) 1-b, 2-c, 3-a
d) 1-a, 2-b, 3-c
Show answer
b) 1-a, 2-c, 3-b. A comet trails a tail, a nebula is a cloud, and a supernova is the blast.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Astronomers see a supernova in a galaxy millions of light years away. What are they really looking at?
a) a reflection from the Moon
b) an event from the distant past
c) an event that is yet to come
d) a bright comet close to the Earth
Show answer
b) an event from the distant past
2. If a supernova took place in a nearby part of our galaxy, what would sky-watchers most likely see?
a) a long band of rain clouds
b) a second Moon beside the first
c) the Sun turning a deep red
d) a new bright point of light
Show answer
d) a new bright point of light
