corona

noun

co·​ro·​na kə-ˈrō-nə 

plural coronas

1

: the projecting part of a classic cornice

2

: something suggesting a crown: such as

a plural coronae kə-ˈrō-(ˌ)nē  also coronas

(1)

: a usually colored circle often seen around and close to a luminous body (such as the sun or moon) caused by diffraction produced by suspended droplets or occasionally particles of dust

(2)

: the tenuous outermost part of the atmosphere of a star (such as the sun)

(3)

: a circle of light made by the apparent convergence of the streamers of the aurora borealis

b

: the upper portion of a bodily part (such as a tooth or the skull)

c

: an appendage or series of united appendages on the inner side of the corolla in some flowers (such as the daffodil, jonquil, or milkweed)

d

: a faint glow adjacent to the surface of an electrical conductor at high voltage

e

informal : coronavirus

In the fight against the consequences of the corona epidemic, the Italian government is resorting to radical measures.

—Anne Kunz et al.

3

[from La Corona, a trademark] : a long cigar having the sides straight to the end to be lit and being roundly blunt at the other end

Illustration of corona

• a corona 2c

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

The solar flare was associated with a partial coronal mass ejection, which is a large expulsion of plasma and magnetic field lines from the Sun's corona — the outermost part of its atmosphere. —Aliza Chasan, CBS News, 9 May 2023

However, both types of events create material that is hotter than the corona’s average temperature. —Ashley Strickland, CNN, 16 Feb. 2023

According to Kevin Strongman, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Tucson, the natural spectacle happened because of a geomagnetic storm, a disturbance on Earth's magnetic field caused by a chunk of plasma released from the sun's corona. —Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 24 Apr. 2023

The sun’s corona is hot—millions of degrees on any temperature scale—but not hot enough to push the solar wind to those speeds. —Katrina Miller, WIRED, 7 Mar. 2023

Now a new analysis argues that the solar wind is powered by a collective set of intermittent, small-scale jetlike eruptions in the sun’s corona, or outer layer. —Quanta Magazine, 24 Apr. 2023

The view of the solar corona during a total solar eclipse on August 21, 2017 from Mount Hood National Forest in Oregon. —Christopher Brito, CBS News, 19 Apr. 2023

In fact, the corona is hundreds of times hotter than the sun's surface. —Olivia Munson, USA TODAY, 11 Apr. 2023

The corona is hot - close to 2 million degrees Kelvin. —Matthew Cappucci, BostonGlobe.com, 8 Apr. 2023

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Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Latin corōna "garland worn on the head as a mark of honor or emblem of majesty, halo around a celestial body, top part of an entablature" — more at crown entry 1

First Known Use

1563, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing corona

• corona radiata

• corona radiata

Kids Definition

corona

noun

co·​ro·​na kə-ˈrō-nə 

1

: a usually colored circle often seen around and close to a shining body (as the sun or moon)

2

: the outermost part of the atmosphere of a star (as the sun)

3

: a faint glow next to the surface of an electrical conductor at high voltage

coronal

ˈkȯr-ən-ᵊl

ˈkär-;

kə-ˈrōn-

adjective

Medical Definition

corona

noun

co·​ro·​na kə-ˈrō-nə 

1

: the upper portion of a bodily part (as a tooth or the skull)

2

informal : coronavirus

Geographical Definition

Corona

geographical name

Co·​ro·​na kə-ˈrō-nə 

city in southern California east of Los Angeles population 152,374