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
R. CowenExamples of coronal mass ejection in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The quartet will study things like coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, the solar wind and the sun's corona.
—Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2025
According to forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a coronal mass ejection (CME) will graze the Earth on March 4, potentially causing a G1-class geomagnetic storm.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, occur when solar activity — such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections — causes magnetic storms.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
This type of solar event is not as intense as coronal mass ejections, which are bursts of magnetic field and plasma from the Sun's outer atmosphere, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coronal mass ejection
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.
Josh Dinner, Space.com, 4 Mar. 2025
According to forecasters from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), a coronal mass ejection (CME) will graze the Earth on March 4, potentially causing a G1-class geomagnetic storm.
—Gordon G. Chang, Newsweek, 3 Mar. 2025
Northern lights, or Aurora Borealis, occur when solar activity — such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections — causes magnetic storms.
—Valerie Mesa, People.com, 14 Feb. 2025
This type of solar event is not as intense as coronal mass ejections, which are bursts of magnetic field and plasma from the Sun's outer atmosphere, according to Rob Steenburgh, a space scientist with the NOAA's Space Weather Prediction Center.
—Chandelis Duster, NPR, 14 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for coronal mass ejection
Cite this Entry
“Coronal mass ejection.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coronal%20mass%20ejection. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share