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
Examples of aurora in a Sentence
a gorgeous pink aurora aroused us out of our slumber
Recent Examples on the Web
Those interested in viewing the aurora borealis should check the latest prediction and seek out dark, clear areas with a view of the northern horizon.
—
Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
On Friday night, the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, were visible in parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and more states across the U.S.
NOAA's map shows its forecast for the northern lights for Saturday, April 5, 2025.
—Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2025
If such an eruption occurs and is accompanied by a CME, Earth could experience strong geomagnetic storms, which may lead to disruptions in radio communications, satellite operations, and GPS systems, but also enhance the chances of breathtaking auroras.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2025
But as a rule of thumb, if the weather is clear, the best aurora is usually visible within an hour or two of midnight, according to NOAA.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aurora
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Raja Krishnamoorthi, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Apr. 2025
On Friday night, the northern lights, also known as the aurora borealis, were visible in parts of Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North and South Dakota and more states across the U.S.
NOAA's map shows its forecast for the northern lights for Saturday, April 5, 2025.
—Kierra Frazier, CBS News, 5 Apr. 2025
If such an eruption occurs and is accompanied by a CME, Earth could experience strong geomagnetic storms, which may lead to disruptions in radio communications, satellite operations, and GPS systems, but also enhance the chances of breathtaking auroras.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 1 Apr. 2025
But as a rule of thumb, if the weather is clear, the best aurora is usually visible within an hour or two of midnight, according to NOAA.
—Eric Lagatta, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for aurora
Cite this Entry
“Aurora.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aurora. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.
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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