metagalaxyn.
/ˈmɛtəˌɡaləksi/, U.S. /ˈmɛdəˌɡæləksi/ Astronomy.
The entire system of recognized galaxies; the entire material universe and the region of space it occupies. Now also (according to some theories): any of several such large-scale systems of galaxies.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > constellation > galaxy > [noun] > cluster of galaxies
cluster1728
supergalaxy1916
metagalaxy1930
supercluster1954
1930 H. Shapley Flights from Chaos xiii. 141 Corresponding to individual stars, multiples, and star clusters we have galaxies, multiple galaxies, and clusters of galaxies... To designate the system including all of these I propose to use Lundmark's term, the Metagalactic system—or, more briefly, the Metagalaxy.
1951 Astron. Jrnl. Apr. 47/2 (heading) Differential rotation of the inner metagalaxy.
1957 H. Shapley Inner Metagalaxy p. vii The Metagalaxy includes..whatever there may be in the way of gas, particles, planets, stars, and star clusters in the spaces between the galaxies. It is essentially the measurable material universe.
1965 Rev. Mod. Physics 37 663/2 According to Klein there may be other metagalaxies in the universe.
1970 Nature 12 Dec. 1069/1 According to this scheme, an initial contraction of the metagalaxy..was turned into an expansion by the pressure of radiation produced by annihilation reactions.
1992 Skeptical Inquirer Summer 359/1 In infinite space an infinity of other metagalaxies are forming.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2001; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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