aurora

noun

au·​ro·​ra ə-ˈrȯr-ə 

ȯ-

plural auroras or aurorae ə-ˈrȯr-(ˌ)ē 

ȯ-

1

: dawn

2

capitalized : the Roman goddess of dawn compare eos

3

: a luminous phenomenon that consists of streamers or arches of light appearing in the upper atmosphere of a planet's magnetic polar regions and is caused by the emission of light from atoms excited by electrons accelerated along the planet's magnetic field lines

auroral

ə-ˈrȯr-əl 

ȯ-

adjective

aurorean

ə-ˈrȯr-ē-ən 

ȯ-

adjective

Synonyms

• cockcrow
• dawn
• dawning
• day
• daybreak
• daylight
• light
• morn
• morning
• sun
• sunrise
• sunup

Examples of aurora in a Sentence

a gorgeous pink aurora aroused us out of our slumber

Recent Examples on the Web

Topline A number of states in the northern United States may have the chance to see the Northern Lights on Thanksgiving night into Friday as a geomagnetic storm is expected to pull the aurora borealis south, according to a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecast. —Molly Bohannon, Forbes, 28 Nov. 2024

The dazzling phenomenon – aka the aurora borealis – should be visible on Thanksgiving and Black Friday in parts of the northern United States, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration says. —Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024

This means that the aurora borealis may be viewed from lower latitudes than usual this year. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 27 Nov. 2024

The aurora borealis could grace the skies of northern New York on Thanksgiving and Black Friday, if a solar storm delivers in fierceness and the weather cooperates. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 27 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin — more at east

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing aurora

• aurora australis
• aurora borealis

Kids Definition

aurora

noun

au·​ro·​ra ə-ˈrōr-ə 

ȯ-ˈrōr-,

-ˈrȯr-

plural auroras or aurorae -ē 

1

: dawn entry 2 sense 1

2

: aurora borealis

3

: aurora australis

auroral

-əl 

adjective

Geographical Definition

Aurora

geographical name

Au·​ro·​ra ə-ˈrȯr-ə 

ȯ-

1

city in north central Colorado east of Denver population 325,078

2

city west of Chicago in northeastern Illinois population 197,899

3

town north of Toronto in southeastern Ontario, Canada population 53,203