aurora

au·ro·ra

noun \ə-ˈrȯr-ə, ȯ-\

plural auroras or au·ro·rae\-(ˌ)ē\

Definition of AURORA

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

— au·ro·ral \-əl\ adjective

— au·ro·re·an \-ē-ən\ adjective

Examples of AURORA

1. <a gorgeous pink aurora aroused us out of our slumber>

Origin of AURORA

Latin — more at east

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to AURORA

Synonyms: dawn, cockcrow, dawning, day, daybreak, daylight, light, morn, morning, sun, sunrise, sunup

Antonyms: nightfall, sundown, sunset

Related Words: daytime; forenoon

Near Antonyms: dark, darkness, midnight, night, nighttime; afternoon, midday; dusk, evening, eventide, gloaming, twilight

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Other Astronomy Terms

gibbous, nadir, nebulous, penumbra, retrograde, sidereal, syzygy, wane, wax, zenith

Rhymes with AURORA

Andorra, angora, Aurora, begorra, camorra, fedora, haftarah, Masora, menorah, pandora, senhora, signora, Sonora, Tambora, Zamora