plural auroras or aurorae
ə-ˈrȯr-(ˌ)ē 
ȯ-
1
: dawn
2
Aurora
: 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
Examples of aurora in a Sentence
a gorgeous pink aurora aroused us out of our slumber
Recent Examples on the Web
Put simply, auroras are a result of the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere.
—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Article continues below Seasonal boost to auroras This week's storm watch comes at an especially exciting time for aurora hunters, with many regarding March as one of the best months to see the northern lights.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
In May and October 2024, the sun’s roughly 11-year peak in activity brought bright auroras far south, to places like Florida, Texas, and the Bahamas.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
This is when the Earth’s magnetic field aligns with the solar wind, intensifying the likelihood of auroras.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aurora
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Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 18 Mar. 2026
Article continues below Seasonal boost to auroras This week's storm watch comes at an especially exciting time for aurora hunters, with many regarding March as one of the best months to see the northern lights.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 17 Mar. 2026
In May and October 2024, the sun’s roughly 11-year peak in activity brought bright auroras far south, to places like Florida, Texas, and the Bahamas.
—Stephanie Vermillion, Outside, 16 Mar. 2026
This is when the Earth’s magnetic field aligns with the solar wind, intensifying the likelihood of auroras.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for aurora
Cite this Entry
“Aurora.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aurora. Accessed 27 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationGeographical Definition
Aurora
geographical name
Au·ro·ra
ə-ˈrȯr-ə
ȯ-
1
city in north central Colorado east of Denver population 325,078
2
city west of Chicago in northeastern Illinois population 197,899
3
town north of Toronto in southeastern Ontario, Canada population 53,203
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