plural auroras or aurorae
ə-ˈrȯr-(ˌ)ē 
ȯ-
1
: dawn
2
capitalized
: 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
The stunning natural phenomenon, formally known as aurora borealis, is expected to be visible over some northern-tier and upper Midwest states, according to the NOAA.
—
Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Travelers will chase the aurora borealis across Iceland, Finland, and Norway.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025
Understanding the mechanisms behind these key drivers in space weather will help protect satellites, astronauts, and infrastructure, while also giving us a better sense of when to expect dramatic aurora displays.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 12 June 2025
A little over 48 hours after the beautiful Strawberry Moon lit up the night sky on June 11, the northern lights are predicted to color the cosmos with a second aurora display this week.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for aurora
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Anthony Robledo, USA Today, 14 June 2025
Travelers will chase the aurora borealis across Iceland, Finland, and Norway.
—Katie Nadworny, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025
Understanding the mechanisms behind these key drivers in space weather will help protect satellites, astronauts, and infrastructure, while also giving us a better sense of when to expect dramatic aurora displays.
—Daisy Dobrijevic, Space.com, 12 June 2025
A little over 48 hours after the beautiful Strawberry Moon lit up the night sky on June 11, the northern lights are predicted to color the cosmos with a second aurora display this week.
—Skyler Caruso, People.com, 12 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for aurora
Cite this Entry
“Aurora.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/aurora. Accessed 18 Jun. 2025.
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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