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

Scientists aim to use these artificial eclipses to unravel a number of mysteries, such as why the sun's corona, or outer atmosphere, is so hot, what accelerates the solar wind, and how the sun flings material out into space during coronal mass ejections. —Andrew Jones, Space.com, 12 May 2025

Northern lights, also known as the Aurora Borealis, occur when solar activity, such as solar flares or coronal mass ejections, causes magnetic storms. —Valerie Mesa, People.com, 6 May 2025

The sun earlier this week burped out huge bursts of energy called coronal mass ejections, leading space weather forecasters to issue a geomagnetic storm watch. —Adithi Ramakrishnan, Chicago Tribune, 15 Apr. 2025

The northern lights appear when coronal mass ejections are hurled out by the sun, sending plasma and magnetic material to collide with Earth’s magnetic field. —Addy Bink, The Hill, 15 Apr. 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