plural auroras or aurorae
ə-ˈrȯr-(ˌ)ē 
ȯ-
1
: dawn
2
capitalized
: the Roman goddess of dawn compare eos
3
: a luminous phenomenon that consists of streamers or arches of light appearing in the upper atmosphere of a planet's magnetic polar regions and is caused by the emission of light from atoms excited by electrons accelerated along the planet's magnetic field lines
Synonyms
Examples of aurora in a Sentence
a gorgeous pink aurora aroused us out of our slumber
Recent Examples on the Web
What are auroras, and how do the northern lights work?
—
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
The possibility of displays of the aurora borealis at southerly latitudes comes after a spate of solar flares and coronal mass ejections supercharged the solar wind.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
The lights show comes as the Perseid meteor shower is in its peak, with a chance to catch the auroras and a streaking meteor in the same night.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2024
When these particles penetrate Earth's magnetic field and collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, kinetic energy is transformed into visible light, creating the aurora, according to NASA.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for aurora 
Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 12 Sep. 2024
The possibility of displays of the aurora borealis at southerly latitudes comes after a spate of solar flares and coronal mass ejections supercharged the solar wind.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 10 Sep. 2024
The lights show comes as the Perseid meteor shower is in its peak, with a chance to catch the auroras and a streaking meteor in the same night.
—Jenna Prestininzi, Detroit Free Press, 12 Aug. 2024
When these particles penetrate Earth's magnetic field and collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, kinetic energy is transformed into visible light, creating the aurora, according to NASA.
—Christine Clarridge, Axios, 8 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for aurora
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Cite this Entry
“Aurora.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aurora. Accessed 2 Oct. 2024.
Copy CitationGeographical Definition
Aurora
geographical name
Au·ro·ra
ə-ˈrȯr-ə
ȯ-
1
city in north central Colorado east of Denver population 325,078
2
city west of Chicago in northeastern Illinois population 197,899
3
town north of Toronto in southeastern Ontario, Canada population 53,203
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