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

These blemishes mark areas of intense magnetic activity, where solar flares and coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, are likely to occur. —Kameryn Griesser, CNN Money, 29 Apr. 2025

Launched in 2010, SDO sends back real-time high-resolution images of the sun in various wavelengths, focusing on sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025

Northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, occur when solar activity, such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections, causes magnetic storms. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 21 Apr. 2025

However, the frequency of sunspots, solar flares and coronal mass ejections is not constant. —Ryan French, Space.com, 27 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