umbra

noun

um·​bra ˈəm-brə 

plural umbras or umbrae ˈəm-(ˌ)brē 

-ˌbrī

1

a

: a conical shadow excluding all light from a given source

specifically : the conical part of the shadow of a celestial body excluding all light from the primary source

b

: the central dark part of a sunspot

2

: a shaded area

umbral

ˈəm-brəl 

adjective

Did you know?

The Latin word umbra ("shade, shadow") has given English a range of words in addition to umbra itself. An umbrella can provide us with shade from the sun. So can an umbrageous tree. (In this case, umbrageous means "affording shade.") The connection to shade or shadow in other umbra words is less obvious. When we say someone takes umbrage, we mean they take offense, but in times past people used the word as a synonym of shade or shadow. These two senses of umbrage influenced umbrageous, which can mean "inclined to take offense easily" as well as "affording shade."

Synonyms of umbra

• shadows
• dark
• darkness
• black
• blackness
• dusk
• twilight
• night
• gloom

Examples of umbra in a Sentence

strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire

during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon

Recent Examples on the Web

No direct sunlight can reach the lunar surface during totality, as the lunar disk passes through the deepest part of our planet's shadow, known as its umbra. —Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2026

The full eclipse, or totality, begins when the moon moves completely into the umbra, turning its usually white surface a dim reddish-orange. —Stefanie Waldek, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 Mar. 2026

The part of the moon inside the umbra appears very dark. —Isa Almeida, Oklahoman, 2 Mar. 2026

During the early morning hours, the full moon will gradually slip behind the darkest part of the Earth's shadow, or umbra, and take on a reddish hue. —John Tufts, IndyStar, 1 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for umbra

• penumbra

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Kids Definition

umbra

noun

um·​bra ˈəm-brə 

plural umbras or umbrae -brē 

-ˌbrī

1

: a shaded area

2

: the cone-shaped part of the shadow of a celestial body from which the light of the sun is completely blocked