umbra

[ uhm-bruh ]

noun

, plural um·bras, um·brae [uhm, -bree].

1. shade; shadow.
2. the invariable or characteristic accompaniment or companion of a person or thing.
3. Astronomy.
   1. the complete or perfect shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the direct light from the source of illumination is completely cut off. Compare penumbra ( def 1a ).
   2. the dark central portion of a sunspot. Compare penumbra ( def 1b ).
4. a phantom or shadowy apparition, as of someone or something not physically present; ghost; spectral image.

umbra

/ ˈʌmbrə /

noun

1. a region of complete shadow resulting from the total obstruction of light by an opaque object, esp the shadow cast by the moon onto the earth during a solar eclipse
2. the darker inner region of a sunspot

umbra

/ ŭm′brə /

, Plural umbras ŭm′brē

1. The darkest part of a shadow, especially the cone-shaped region of full shadow cast by Earth, the Moon, or another body during an eclipse. In a full lunar eclipse, which generally lasts for one or two hours, the entire disk of the Moon is darkened as it passes through the umbra. During this period the Moon takes on a faint reddish glow due to illumination by a small amount of sunlight that is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere and bent toward the darkened Moon; the reddish tint is caused by the filtering out of blue wavelengths as the sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, leaving only the longer wavelengths on the red end of the spectrum.
2. See Note at eclipse
3. The dark central region of a sunspot.
4. Compare penumbra

Derived Forms

• ˈumbral, adjective

Other Words From

• um·bral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of umbra¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin: literally, “shade, shadow”

Word History and Origins

Origin of umbra¹

C16: from Latin: shade, shadow

Example Sentences

In this case, about 3.5% of the moon will appear darkened by the Earth’s umbra, a term that describes the darkest segment of the Earth’s shadow.

From Los Angeles Times

The lighter one, called the penumbra, will not have too much effect but the umbra, the inner and darker shadow, will darken the Moon.

From BBC

In the umbra of these darkly tinged stories, readers will experience late-night fears and the sweet relief of daylight.

From Los Angeles Times

“Having once stood in the umbra, the Moon’s shadow, during a solar eclipse, we are driven to do so again and again, whenever the Moon moves between the Earth and the Sun.”

From New York Times

A solar eclipse occurs when a new moon aligns perfectly between Earth and the sun and briefly casts a shadow on our planet, called an umbra.

From National Geographic

Related Words

• body
• character
• creature
• ghost
• human being
• individual
• man
• person
• spirit
• woman