VELA

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does Vela mean? 

• VELA (noun)
  The noun VELA has 1 sense:

1. a constellation in the southern hemisphere between Carina and Pyxis

  Familiarity information: VELA used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• VELA (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A constellation in the southern hemisphere between Carina and Pyxis

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Context example:

because of its configuration Vela is sometimes called 'the Sails'

Instance hypernyms:

constellation (a configuration of stars as seen from the earth)

Holonyms ("Vela" is a part of...):

Argo (formerly a large constellation in the southern hemisphere between Canis Major and the Southern Cross; now divided into Carina and Pyxis and Puppis and Vela)

 Context examples 

One particular cluster, called NGC 3201 and situated in the southern constellation of Vela (The Sails), has now been studied.

(Odd Behaviour of Star Reveals Lonely Black Hole Hiding in Giant Star Cluster, ESO)

In the new study, Spitzer set its heat-seeking infrared eyes on the dusty star NGC 2547-ID8, which is about 35 million years old and lies 1,200 light-years away in the Vela constellation.

(Spitzer Telescope Witnesses Asteroid Smashup, NASA)