umbra

noun

um·bra ˈəm-brə

plural umbras or umbrae ˈəm-(ˌ)brē

-ˌbrī

Synonyms of umbra next

: 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

: the central dark part of a sunspot

: 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."

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

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

When the moon moves into the inner part of Earth's shadow, or umbra, according to NASA, some of the sunlight entering Earth's skies scatters before reaching the moon's surface. —

Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 29 Oct. 2024 Here's why During a partial lunar eclipse, the moon passes through only part of the Earth's shadow, or umbra, entering into an imperfect alignment with the sun and Earth. —

Jenny Porter Tilley, The Indianapolis Star, 17 Oct. 2024 Whenever there’s a total solar eclipse coming, eclipse-chasers must get into the path of totality — a projection of the moon’s central shadow, the umbra — onto the surface of Earth. —

Jamie Carter, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 In a new paper published earlier this month in The Astronomical Journal, Wright sets out exactly how the moon’s terrain creates the shape of its umbra. —

Jamie Carter, Forbes, 3 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for umbra