solar wind

noun

: plasma continuously ejected from the sun's surface into and through interplanetary space

Examples of solar wind in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web However, these sounds are elusive, occurring during specific conditions, and are most common during the solar wind's intense peaks in the 11-year cycle. The Arizona Republic, 31 Jan. 2024 Scientists have long presumed that the solar wind – an outpouring of particles from the sun – creates water on the moon. Matt Hrodey, Discover Magazine, 19 Sep. 2023 When energy from the solar wind is exchanged into the space ecosphere that envelops Earth, a significant disruption of the magnetosphere is known as a geomagnetic storm. Chuck Brooks, Forbes, 29 Feb. 2024 About a decade ago, scientists found evidence that water is produced in regolith—the tiny dust grains on the surface of asteroids—by space weathering, the interaction between hydrogen in solar wind and oxygen tied up within minerals on the airless asteroids. Melissa Gaskill, Popular Mechanics, 12 July 2023 According to the Aurora Zone, the sun's activity, cloud cover and solar winds can all affect the likelihood of seeing the aurora. Emily Deletter, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024 This solar wind is always flowing, but its levels can vary. Time, 13 July 2023 Jupiter has an aurora that’s fueled by the solar wind and also sparked by three of its moons: Io, Europa and Ganymede. Phil Plait, Scientific American, 19 Jan. 2024 When the solar wind hits oxygen, for example, red or green light is created; a collision with nitrogen results in greens and purples. Ashley Stimpson, Popular Mechanics, 12 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'solar wind.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1958, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of solar wind was in 1958

Dictionary Entries Near solar wind

Cite this Entry

“Solar wind.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar%20wind. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

solar wind

noun
: the continuous radiation of charged particles from the sun's surface

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