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

Examples of coronal mass ejection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Northern lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are caused by magnetic storms triggered by solar activity, like solar flares (explosions on the sun) or coronal mass ejections (ejected gas bubbles). —Skyler Caruso, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025

The northern lights have been more active than usual over the past week after a coronal mass ejection, a form of solar eruption, caused a severe G4 geomagnetic storm. —Conor Murray, Forbes, 6 Jan. 2025

They are caused by magnetic storms that have been triggered by solar activity, such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections. —Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 31 Dec. 2024

This eruptive event reached the X-class level, and produced this stunning coronal mass ejection. —Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 28 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coronal mass ejection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction