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
Solar flares are also associated with coronal mass ejections, or clouds of plasma and magnetic fields launched from the sun that rile up geomagnetic storms on Earth.
—Gayoung Lee, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024
The sun’s 11-year cycle omitted its strongest flare on Oct. 3, coinciding with a coronal mass ejection and a Kp index as high as 7, causing the lights to be visible as far south as Kansas.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
What are the northern lights The term northern lights refers to the natural display of pink and green hues in the sky that occurs when charged particles from a coronal mass ejection interact with Earth's magnetic field -- resulting in a geometric storm.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2024
The visual phenomenon, also called aurora borealis, is caused by a coronal mass ejection, an eruption of solar material.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 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.
Gayoung Lee, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Dec. 2024
The sun’s 11-year cycle omitted its strongest flare on Oct. 3, coinciding with a coronal mass ejection and a Kp index as high as 7, causing the lights to be visible as far south as Kansas.
—Sara Dorn, Forbes, 15 Dec. 2024
What are the northern lights The term northern lights refers to the natural display of pink and green hues in the sky that occurs when charged particles from a coronal mass ejection interact with Earth's magnetic field -- resulting in a geometric storm.
—Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 28 Nov. 2024
The visual phenomenon, also called aurora borealis, is caused by a coronal mass ejection, an eruption of solar material.
—Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA TODAY, 28 Nov. 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 Dec. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share