aura

noun

au·​ra ˈȯr-ə 

1

a(1)

: a distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source

The place had an aura of mystery.

(2)

slang : the quality of being impressively cool (see cool entry 1 sense 7b), charming, or appealing

Throughout social media, users are saying their favorite athletes have aura because of their effortlessly cool appearance in games.

—Dan Aulbach

b

: a subtle sensory stimulus (such as an aroma)

2

medical : a subjective (see subjective entry 1 sense 4b) sensation (as of voices, colored lights, or crawling and numbness) experienced at the onset of a neurological condition and especially a migraine or epileptic seizure

3

: an energy field that is held to emanate from a living being

4

: a luminous radiation : nimbus

Did you know?

Slang Meaning of Aura

Aura also is used to mean “stylishness” or “confident and suave excellence.” Learn more >

Synonyms

• atmosphere
• air
• aroma
• smell
• ambiance
• ambience
• sense
• flavor

Examples of aura in a Sentence

the monastery perched high on a mountaintop had an aura of unreality and mystery about it

alternative medical treatments that rely on the practitioner's ability to detect a patient's aura

Recent Examples on the Web

The photo itself has to speak, has to have aura and energy. —Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025

The game play or the drama unfolds in a way that really matches that character’s atmosphere or that character’s aura. —Abid Rahman, HollywoodReporter, 2 Nov. 2025

The most gifted preachers transformed that aura into spiritual empires, drawing thousands to megachurches, filling television airwaves and sometimes amassing personal fortunes. —Mike Hixenbaugh, NBC news, 30 Oct. 2025

Since then, the college aura — the open practices, the packed stands, and the small-town camp atmosphere — has become an iconic, recurring part of the Bills' season build-up. —Rowan Fisher-Shotton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin, puff of air, breeze, from Greek; probably akin to Greek aēr air

First Known Use

1686, in the meaning defined at sense 1b

Rhymes for aura

• bora
• cora
• flora
• fora
• gora
• hora
• kora
• laura
• lora
• mora
• ora
• torah

Kids Definition

aura

noun

au·​ra ˈȯr-ə 

: a special quality or impression associated with something

an aura of mystery

Medical Definition

aura

noun

au·​ra ˈȯr-ə 

plural auras also aurae -ē 

: a subjective sensation (as of voices or colored lights or crawling and numbness) experienced at the onset of a neurological condition and especially a migraine or epileptic seizure

About 20 percent of migraine sufferers experience an aura as the first symptom of an attack. The aura may be a pulsing star of light, or a dance of geometric forms across the visual field, sometimes turning into hallucinations …

—Natalie Angier, The New York Times

The migraine aura, which consists of episodes of well-defined, transient, focal neurologic dysfunction, develops over the course of more than 4 minutes and usually lasts no more than 60 minutes.

—Sid Gilman, The New England Journal of Medicine

The aura is due to electrical activity originating from the seizure focus and thus represents the earliest manifestations of a partial seizure.

—Gary L. Westbrook, in Principles of Neural Science, 4th edition