Aurora

[ uh-rawr-uh, uh-rohr-uh ]

noun

, plural au·ro·ras, au·ro·rae [uh, -, rawr, -ee, uh, -, rohr, -ee]

1. the ancient Roman goddess of the dawn. Compare Eos.
2. (lowercase) dawn.
3. (lowercase) Meteorology. a radiant emission from the upper atmosphere that occurs sporadically over the middle and high latitudes of both hemispheres in the form of luminous bands, streamers, or the like, caused by the bombardment of the atmosphere with charged solar particles that are being guided along the earth's magnetic lines of force.
4. a city in central Colorado, near Denver.
5. a city in northeastern Illinois.
6. a first name.

aurora

¹

/ ɔːˈrɔːrə /

noun

1. an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands, curtains, or streamers of light, usually green, red, or yellow, that move across the sky in polar regions. It is caused by collisions between air molecules and charged particles from the sun that are trapped in the earth's magnetic field
2. poetic.
   the dawn

Aurora

²

/ ɔːˈrɔːrə /

noun

1. the Roman goddess of the dawn Greek counterpartEos
2. the dawn or rise of something

Aurora

³

/ ɔːˈrɔːrə /

noun

1. another name for Maewo

aurora

/ ə-rôr′ə /

, Plural auroras ə-rôr′ē

1. A brilliant display of bands or folds of variously colored light in the sky at night, especially in polar regions. Charged particles from the solar wind are channeled through the Earth's magnetic field into the polar regions. There the particles collide with atoms and molecules in the upper atmosphere, ionizing them and making them glow. Auroras are of greatest intensity and extent during periods of increased sunspot activity, when they often interfere with telecommunications on Earth.
2. ◆ An aurora that occurs in southern latitudes is called an aurora australis (ô-strā|||PRIMARY_STRESS|||lĭs) or southern lights . When it occurs in northern latitudes it is called an aurora borealis (bôr′ē-ăl|||PRIMARY_STRESS|||ĭs) or northern lights .
3. See also magnetic storm

Derived Forms

• auˈrorally, adverb
• auˈroral, adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of Aurora¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin aurōra “dawn, dawn goddess,” east

Word History and Origins

Origin of Aurora¹

C14: from Latin: dawn; see east