umbra

noun

um·​bra ˈəm-brə 

plural umbras or umbrae ˈəm-(ˌ)brē 

-ˌbrī

1

a

: a conical shadow excluding all light from a given source

specifically : the conical part of the shadow of a celestial body excluding all light from the primary source

b

: the central dark part of a sunspot

2

: a shaded area

umbral

ˈəm-brəl 

adjective

Did you know?

The Latin word umbra ("shade, shadow") has given English a range of words in addition to umbra itself. An umbrella can provide us with shade from the sun. So can an umbrageous tree. (In this case, umbrageous means "affording shade.") The connection to shade or shadow in other umbra words is less obvious. When we say someone takes umbrage, we mean they take offense, but in times past people used the word as a synonym of shade or shadow. These two senses of umbrage influenced umbrageous, which can mean "inclined to take offense easily" as well as "affording shade."

Synonyms

• black
• blackness
• candlelight
• dark
• darkness
• dusk
• gloaming
• gloom
• murk
• night
• semidarkness
• shade
• shadows
• twilight

Examples of umbra in a Sentence

strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire

during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon

Recent Examples on the Web

During tonight's event, the full moon will pass through the northern part of Earth's umbra, causing the lower half of the moon (as seen from the Northern Hemisphere) likely to be darker than the upper half. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025

There's a large fuzzy outer shadow, called the penumbra, and a much smaller, darker central shadow, the umbra. —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2025

During totality, the moon enters Earth's umbra—the darkest, central part of its shadow—and gradually dims. —Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025

Earth's shadow in space — which is always there — has two parts: a fuzzy outer penumbra and a deep, dark umbra. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for umbra

• penumbra

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Kids Definition

umbra

noun

um·​bra ˈəm-brə 

plural umbras or umbrae -brē 

-ˌbrī

1

: a shaded area

2

: the cone-shaped part of the shadow of a celestial body from which the light of the sun is completely blocked