Stargate

//ˈstɑɹˌɡeɪt// noun

noun ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    A hypothetical device consisting of a traversable portal (typically a wormhole) that can send one to another location light years away nearly instantaneously. neologism

    "Find examples of stargates and wormholes in the ancient world […]"

Example

More examples

"But perception isn’t reality. A key distinction lies in intent and origin. If these extraterrestrials present themselves as deities (like the Goa’uld in Stargate SG-1), they might exploit our awe for control. Alternatively, they could be benevolent, indifferent, or just curious—none of which inherently makes them gods. Philosophically, a god often implies worship-worthiness tied to ultimate power or moral perfection. An alien species might outclass us in tech—say, building Dyson Spheres or warping spacetime—but still be fallible, selfish, or mortal. Would we call a super-smart, super-strong human a god? Probably not, unless they transcend the natural order entirely."

Etymology

From star + gate. A science fiction film of this title, Stargate, was released in 1994.

Related phrases

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.