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

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.

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, 28 Nov. 2024 Advertisement In this case, about 3.5% of the moon appeared darkened by the Earth’s umbra, a term that describes the darkest segment of the Earth’s shadow. —

Jaweed Kaleem, Los Angeles Times, 17 Sep. 2024 When that occurs, the umbra – the darkest portion of the Earth's shadow – covers only small fraction of the moon's surface. —

Janet Loehrke, USA TODAY, 13 Sep. 2024 In a total lunar eclipse, the entire Moon passes through Earth's umbra, the darker, inner part of its shadow. —

Jake Parks, Discover Magazine, 11 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for umbra