aura

noun

au·​ra ˈȯr-ə How to pronounce aura (audio)
1
a
: a distinctive atmosphere surrounding a given source
The place had an aura of mystery.
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

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 aura of Andy Warhol, another party buddy, shines on him, sanctifying all worldly ambition. Jackson Arn, The New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2024 Buy Now Homesick Barbie Dreamhouse Candle Diptyque Amber Candle Evoke the aura of a cackling fire with this woody scent from Diptyque, which features notes of wood, vetiver and patchouli enhanced with radiant aniseed, insolent spices, mysterious incense, cistus and tonka bean. Anna Tingley, Variety, 23 Feb. 2024 The 2020 Champions League winner visits Lazio on Wednesday with its aura dimmed despite Harry Kane’s 28 goals this season and coming through the group stage unbeaten for the sixth straight year. Graham Dunbar, USA TODAY, 11 Feb. 2024 Rote’s aura chased away some of Ford’s anxiety over Layne’s injury. Bill Morris, Detroit Free Press, 28 Jan. 2024 This victory would further magnify the prime minister’s aura, enhancing his image as India’s redeemer. Ramachandra Guha, Foreign Affairs, 20 Feb. 2024 Most people assume that the generative AI has this aura either by happenstance or is somehow a requirement associated with the underlying technology. Lance Eliot, Forbes, 19 Feb. 2024 She is backlit by the L.A. sun, whose rays create an aura above her head. Myriam Gurba, Los Angeles Times, 15 Feb. 2024 His aura will linger; Miami will always be the MLS team that had Messi. Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'aura.' 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

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of aura was in 1686

Dictionary Entries Near aura

Cite this Entry

“Aura.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aura. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

aura

noun
au·​ra ˈȯr-ə How to pronounce aura (audio)
: a special quality or impression associated with something
an aura of holiness

Medical Definition

aura

noun
au·​ra ˈȯr-ə How to pronounce aura (audio)
plural auras also aurae -ē How to pronounce aura (audio)
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on aura

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