A symbiotic star that exhibits outbursts similar to those of a nova (up to 10 magnitudes) but with an exceptionally slow decline. There may be Mira-like long-period variations of 1–2 mag. before the outbursts. The secondary is an evolved giant or Mira star. (This distinguishes the systems from true novae with main-sequence or slightly evolved secondaries.) There appears to be continuous or extremely prolonged mass loss. RR Telescopii and related systems were previously called very slow novae, and are now sometimes known as symbiotic novae.