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The Latin word umbra ("shade, shadow") has given English a range of words in addition to umbra itself. An umbrella can provide us with shade from the sun. So can an umbrageous tree. (In this case, umbrageous means "affording shade.") The connection to shade or shadow in other umbra words is less obvious. When we say someone takes umbrage, we mean they take offense, but in times past people used the word as a synonym of shade or shadow. These two senses of umbrage influenced umbrageous, which can mean "inclined to take offense easily" as well as "affording shade."
Examples of umbra in a Sentence
Jamie Carter, Space.com, 23 Mar. 2025
During totality, the moon enters Earth's umbra—the darkest, central part of its shadow—and gradually dims.
—Michael D'estries, Travel + Leisure, 13 Mar. 2025
Earth's shadow in space — which is always there — has two parts: a fuzzy outer penumbra and a deep, dark umbra.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes, 17 Sep. 2024
When the moon moves into the inner part of the Earth’s shadow, or the umbra, some of the sunlight passes through Earth’s atmosphere, lighting the moon dimly, according to NASA.
—Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for umbra
Cite this Entry
“Umbra.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/umbra. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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