aurora

noun

au·​ro·​ra ə-ˈrȯr-ə How to pronounce aurora (audio)
ȯ-
plural auroras or aurorae ə-ˈrȯr-(ˌ)ē How to pronounce aurora (audio)
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 adjective
aurorean adjective

Examples of aurora in a Sentence

a gorgeous pink aurora aroused us out of our slumber
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
While there's no guarantee, this geomagnetic storm could make for an unforgettable Valentine's Day under the dancing auroras. Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 12 Feb. 2025 This year marks the peak of the current solar cycle, promising some of the most dramatic auroras in a decade. Passport By Forbeslife, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025 Pettit captured this time-lapse of the aurora from the International Space Station (ISS), where he's been stationed since September. Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 10 Jan. 2025 One such storm in May 2024 even brought the aurora as far south as Hawaii. Mark Miesch, a researcher with NOAA’s Space Weather Prediction Center, previously told Nexstar that solar maximum can last for about two years or even more. Addy Bink, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for aurora 

Word History

Etymology

Latin — more at east

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of aurora was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near aurora

Cite this Entry

“Aurora.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aurora. Accessed 19 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

aurora

noun
au·​ro·​ra ə-ˈrōr-ə How to pronounce aurora (audio)
ȯ-ˈrōr-,
-ˈrȯr-
plural auroras or aurorae -ē How to pronounce aurora (audio)
auroral adjective

Geographical Definition

Aurora

geographical name

Au·​ro·​ra ə-ˈrȯr-ə How to pronounce Aurora (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on aurora

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