umbra

noun

um·​bra ˈəm-brə How to pronounce umbra (audio)
plural umbras or umbrae ˈəm-(ˌ)brē How to pronounce umbra (audio)
-ˌbrī
1
a
: a conical shadow excluding all light from a given source
specifically : the conical part of the shadow of a celestial body excluding all light from the primary source
b
: the central dark part of a sunspot
2
: a shaded area
umbral adjective

Did you know?

The Latin word umbra ("shade, shadow") has given English a range of words in addition to umbra itself. An umbrella can provide us with shade from the sun. So can an umbrageous tree. (In this case, umbrageous means "affording shade.") The connection to shade or shadow in other umbra words is less obvious. When we say someone takes umbrage, we mean they take offense, but in times past people used the word as a synonym of shade or shadow. These two senses of umbrage influenced umbrageous, which can mean "inclined to take offense easily" as well as "affording shade."

Examples of umbra in a Sentence

strange noises were coming from the wooded umbra beyond our campfire during a solar eclipse observers located within the umbra experience a complete blocking of the sun by the moon
Recent Examples on the Web This full moon is also a partial lunar eclipse, according to the experts at NASA, an imperfect alignment of the sun, Earth and moon that results in the moon passing through only part of Earth's umbra. The Indianapolis Star, 6 Mar. 2024 According to National Geographic, a solar eclipse occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, creating a shadow on our planet called an umbra. Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 23 Feb. 2024 This map shows the extent of the Moon’s outer shadow (penumbra) and inner shadow (umbra), where totality is seen. Michael Zeiler, Discover Magazine, 23 Feb. 2024 The second moon’s umbra — the shadowy area that darkens the Earth during an eclipse — would also cover twice the area that the first moon does. Matt Benoit, Discover Magazine, 1 Dec. 2023 The moon’s shadow, or umbra, is falling across the southeastern coast of Texas, near Corpus Christi. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2023 The penumbral eclipse, when the moon is completely immersed in the penumbral cone of the Earth without touching the umbra, the inner part of Earth's shadow, is expected to begin Sunday just after 9:30 p.m. ET, according to NASA. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 May 2022 Only where the moon blocks all the light from the sun — in its dark inner shadow called the umbra — can people on Earth see a total solar eclipse. Michael E Bakich, Discover Magazine, 7 Aug. 2017 The partial eclipse, when the moon appears to move into the umbra and part of the moon inside the umbra will appear very dark, will occur just before 10:30 p.m. ET. Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 12 May 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'umbra.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

1638, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of umbra was in 1638

Podcast

Dictionary Entries Near umbra

Cite this Entry

“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbra. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

umbra

noun
um·​bra ˈəm-brə How to pronounce umbra (audio)
plural umbras or umbrae -brē How to pronounce umbra (audio)
-ˌbrī
1
: a shaded area
2
: the cone-shaped part of the shadow of a celestial body from which the light of the sun is completely blocked

More from Merriam-Webster on umbra

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!