an atmospheric phenomenon consisting of bands, curtains, or streamers of light, usually green, red, or yellow, that move across the sky in polar regions. It is caused by collisions between air molecules and charged particles from the sun that are trapped in the earth's magnetic field
2. poetic
the dawn
Derived forms
auroral (auˈroral)
adjective
aurorally (auˈrorally)
adverb
Word origin
C14: from Latin: dawn; see east
Aurora in British English1
(ɔːˈrɔːrə)
noun
1.
the Roman goddess of the dawn
Greek counterpart: Eos
2.
the dawn or rise of something
Aurora in British English2
(ɔːˈrɔːrə)
noun
another name for Maewo
Aurora in American English1
(ɔˈrɔrə; əˈrɔrə)
nounWord forms: pluralauˈroras or auˈrorae (ɔˈrɔri; əˈrɔri)
1. Roman Mythology
the goddess of dawn: identified with the Greek Eos
2. [a-]
the dawn
3. [a-]
aurora australis or , aurora borealis
4. [a-]
any of various luminous phenomena, similar to the aurora borealis, in the atmosphere of a planet
Derived forms
auroral (auˈroral)
adjective or auˈrorean (ɔˈrɔriən; əˈrɔriən)
Word origin
L, lit., dawn: for IE base see east
Aurora in American English2
(ɔˈrɔrə; əˈrɔrə)
1.
city in NC Colo., near Denver: pop. 276,000
2.
city in NE Ill., near Chicago: pop. 143,000
Word origin
after the goddess Aurora, prob. because of pleasant connotations
Examples of 'aurora' in a sentence
aurora
It's the aurora borealis dancing across the night sky.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
I had seen an aurora before but that was no holiday.