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
While visibility farther south is less likely, stronger geomagnetic fluctuations can occasionally push the aurora farther down than forecast, especially in rural areas with dark skies and minimal light pollution.
—
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
But remember to keep an eye out elsewhere too, as auroras can pop up in front, behind or even above you!
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 18 May 2026
In North America, auroras are typically best observed in March and November, for reasons scientists still don't fully understand.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 16 May 2026
Put simply, auroras are a result of the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 15 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for aurora
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 18 May 2026
But remember to keep an eye out elsewhere too, as auroras can pop up in front, behind or even above you!
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 18 May 2026
In North America, auroras are typically best observed in March and November, for reasons scientists still don't fully understand.
—Alana Wise, NPR, 16 May 2026
Put simply, auroras are a result of the sun interacting with the Earth’s atmosphere.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 15 May 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 29 May. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
