Local Group

American

noun

Astronomy.

the group of galaxies, at least 25 of which are known, that includes the Milky Way.

Local Group British

noun

astronomy the cluster of galaxies to which our galaxy and the Andromeda Galaxy belong

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Local Group Scientific

A group of more than 30 galaxies that includes 2 large spiral galaxies—the Milky Way and Andromeda—as well as numerous smaller galaxies, many of which are dwarfs. The Local Group has a diameter of approximately 10 million light-years, with its gravitational center located between our galaxy and the Andromeda galaxy. It is part of a larger grouping known as the Virgo supercluster.

Etymology

Origin of Local Group

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Mrs. Lincoln hosted as many as eight séances in the White House, using a local group of Washington, DC, mediums.

From Literature

Laura Gargano, a neighbour and board member with a local group, the Catalina Foothills Association, admitted that some people in the area were beefing up their security since the 84-year-old disappeared.

From BBC

When Kelly was in her early 30s, she joined her local group in London.

From BBC

Men on the counter-protest side, which is organised by the local group Falkirk For All, are also often labelled paedophiles.

From BBC

“We’ve been ignored,” said Zeballos, an accountant and member of a local group called “Don’t Touch Jachal” that opposes mining.

From The Wall Street Journal

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023