novalike symbiotic

novalike symbiotic

[′nō·və‚līk ‚sim·bē′äd·ik] (astronomy) A symbiotic star consisting of a red giant combined with a white dwarf, in which thermonuclear reactions of hydrogen and helium from the red giant accreted in the surface layers of the white dwarf are believed to produce outbursts of energy similar to those observed in a nova. Also known as symbiotic nova.