English▸ adjective relating to a galaxy or galaxies, especially the galaxy containing the solar system:
the search for a black hole at the galactic centre.
▪ Astronomy measured relative to the galactic equator:
the south galactic pole.
– ORIGIN late 18th century (in sense ‘lactic’, of acid): from Greek galaktikos milky (from gala-, galakt- ‘milk’), subsequently influenced by galaxy.