Historical Dictionary of Science Fiction

Order by: alphabetical | chronological



Word Definition
space car n. (1928) = spacecraft n.
space colony n. (1932) a group of beings living in a space station or on a world other than their motherworld; the structure or location of such a group
space conquest n. (1937) the conquest of territory in outer space or on other planets
spacecraft n. (1929) any vehicle designed to travel in space
space crew n. (1939) the crew of a spacecraft
space cruiser n. (1925) a spaceship; = cruiser n.
space dinghy n. (1941) a small spaceship; a lifeboat or shuttle
space dock n. (1938) a spaceport or space station, esp. one where a spaceship can undergo repair or take on supplies
space dog n. (1937) = spacehound n.
space drive n. (1932) a propulsion system for a spaceship; cf. star drive n.
space elevator n. (1975) any of various proposed structures extending from the earth upwards for many miles as a means of transporting materials into space, esp. one consisting of a tether linked to a geosynchronous satellite orbiting the earth; cf. orbital tower n.
space epic n. (1943) a subgenre of science fiction featuring adventure-driven plots set in outer space; a work in this genre; cf. space opera n.
space exploration n. (1878) the exploration of space
space explorer n. (1901) one who explores space
spacefarer n. (1936) a person who travels in space, an astronaut; (also) a space traveller from another planet
spacefaring n. (1942) the action of travelling in space
spacefaring adj. (1942) that travels, or is able to travel, in space; that is used during or pertains to space travel
space fiction n. (1929) science fiction set in space or on other worlds, or involving space travel n.
space-fictional n. (1963) resembling or characteristic of space fiction n.
space field n. 1 (1931) a field of energy
space field n. 2 (1939) a place esp. on the surface of a planet where spacecraft can take off and land; = spaceport n.
space fleet n. (1930) an organized group of spaceships, esp. one under military control
space flight n. (1930) a journey in or into outer space; (as a mass noun) space-travel generally
space flyer n. 1 (1911) a spacecraft
space flyer n. 2 (1928) a space traveller; an astronaut
space force n. (1932) a branch of the military that acts in outer space
space freighter n. (1930) a spaceship primarily used for transporting cargo
space-going adj. (1932) that travels in space
spacegram n. (1931) a brief (written) message sent through space
spacegram v. (1931) transitive to send (a spacegram); also with recipient as object, and intransitive
space gun n. 1 (1929) a large gun which projects a spacecraft into space; (also) a hand-held gun whose recoil is used by an astronaut for propulsion
space gun n. 2 (1932) a weapon used in by people in space; a toy handgun of a style imagined to be used by space travellers
spacehand n. (1938) someone who works or has experience working in space, esp. a low-ranking member of a spaceship crew
space helmet n. (1931) a helmet worn as part of a spacesuit, to provide the wearer with a breathable atmosphere and to protect the head
spacehound n. (1931) an experienced spaceman or spacewoman
space journey n. (1890) a journey in space
space junk n. (1951) man-made debris floating in space