coronal mass ejection

noun

: a tremendous outburst of energy from the corona of the sun that can cause disruptions in the earth's geomagnetic field

As they had for the January eruption, the researchers relied on an armada of spacecraft to track the disturbance, known as a coronal mass ejection because it originates in the sun's outer atmosphere, or corona.

—R. Cowen

—abbreviation CME compare solar flare

Examples of coronal mass ejection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Capturing a prominence Observations of the corona are crucial to understanding phenomena such as solar wind and coronal mass ejections, which can disrupt Earth's power and communication systems and produce spectacular displays of the northern lights. —Jamie Carter, Space.com, 16 June 2025

Due to the lingering effects of a coronal mass ejection that left the sun on June 6, NOAA forecasted a minor solar storm for Monday, June 9. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 9 June 2025

That was caused by two coronal mass ejections resulting in a magnetic storm. —Sean Mowbray, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2025

The Northern Lights may be visible in the U.S. overnight on Tuesday and Wednesday as a coronal mass ejection travels towards Earth to cause a geomagnetic storm, according to the latest forecast by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Space Weather Prediction Center. —Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1974, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for coronal mass ejection

• abjection
• advection
• affection
• bijection
• bisection
• collection
• complexion
• confection
• connection
• connexion
• convection
• correction