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

After all, between the fast-moving solar wind and a subtle push from a coronal mass ejection that arrived earlier this week, aurora activity could ramp up quicker than expected. —Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 28 Oct. 2025

Powerful flares may accompany the departure of these coronal mass ejections (CMEs); both are examples of solar storms. —Literary Hub, 27 Oct. 2025

Then, about 15 hours later, a massive coronal mass ejection (CME) slammed into Earth's magnetic field. —Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 26 Oct. 2025

The most powerful of these events are called interplanetary coronal mass ejections, or CMEs, which travel at speeds approaching 1,800 miles per second (2,897 kilometers per second). —JSTOR Daily, 24 Oct. 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