coronal mass ejection
noun
: a tremendous outburst of energy from the corona of the sun that can cause disruptions in the earth's geomagnetic field
As they had for the January eruption, the researchers relied on an armada of spacecraft to track the disturbance, known as a coronal mass ejection because it originates in the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.—
R. Cowen
—abbreviation CME
compare solar flare
R. CowenExamples of coronal mass ejection in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's Space Weather Prediction Center, solar material and magnetic fields erupted and created a coronal mass ejection Oct. 8.
—Olivia Rose, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
The fastest coronal mass ejections can reach Earth from the Sun in 15 to 18 hours, and slower ejections can take several days to arrive, NOAA officials said.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2024
These types of solar storms occur when eruptions from the sun, known as coronal mass ejections, hurl giant clouds of plasma into space.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 10 Oct. 2024
The agency is monitoring solar conditions after a strong X -class flare pushed out a coronal mass ejection from the center of the sun Wednesday.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coronal mass ejection 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Olivia Rose, The Arizona Republic, 12 Oct. 2024
The fastest coronal mass ejections can reach Earth from the Sun in 15 to 18 hours, and slower ejections can take several days to arrive, NOAA officials said.
—Lauren Penington, The Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2024
These types of solar storms occur when eruptions from the sun, known as coronal mass ejections, hurl giant clouds of plasma into space.
—Denise Chow, NBC News, 10 Oct. 2024
The agency is monitoring solar conditions after a strong X -class flare pushed out a coronal mass ejection from the center of the sun Wednesday.
—John Tufts, The Indianapolis Star, 10 Oct. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coronal mass ejection
Dictionary Entries Near coronal mass ejection
Cite this Entry
“Coronal mass ejection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coronal%20mass%20ejection. Accessed 19 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share