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.

—Ron Cowen

—abbreviation CME compare solar flare

Examples of coronal mass ejection in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Scientists are curious about the sun's inner workings to better track massive bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections that can hurl toward Earth. — CBS News, 6 Aug. 2026

The swirls could also fuel the buildup of the sun’s magnetic energy, which drives solar flares and coronal mass ejections. — Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 5 Aug. 2026

The sun's corona, its outer atmosphere, is where solar flares and coronal mass ejections come from. — Jamie Carter, Space.com, 3 Aug. 2026

This is due to a coronal mass ejection (CME) from the sun on July 30, expected to cause a G2-class geomagnetic storm. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

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