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
The reversal is driven by sunspots, which are regions of complex magnetic activity on the sun's surface that can trigger significant solar events, such as solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs) — large blasts of plasma and magnetic field.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025
The sun spits out a flare or coronal mass ejection (an explosion of solar material) that reaches Earth’s atmosphere.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
All of the activity sparks solar storms, specifically solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which hurl plasma and magnetic material into space.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2025
Usually for an aurora to occur, the sun must release a bubble of plasma that scientists call a coronal mass ejection (CME), a phenomenon that follows some but not all flares.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 30 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for coronal mass ejection 
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.
Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 15 Jan. 2025
The sun spits out a flare or coronal mass ejection (an explosion of solar material) that reaches Earth’s atmosphere.
—Amanda Kooser, Forbes, 7 Jan. 2025
All of the activity sparks solar storms, specifically solar flares and coronal mass ejections (CMEs), which hurl plasma and magnetic material into space.
—Addy Bink, The Hill, 5 Jan. 2025
Usually for an aurora to occur, the sun must release a bubble of plasma that scientists call a coronal mass ejection (CME), a phenomenon that follows some but not all flares.
—Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 30 Dec. 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 21 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share