aurora
12 synonyms for aurora, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A natural display of shifting coloured lights in the night sky near the polar regions, caused by charged particles from the sun.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use aurora
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
aurora borealis
aurora australis
see the aurora
Etymology
From Latin aurōra ("dawn"), also the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn.
Full origin of aurora →Frequently asked questions
What does “aurora” mean?
The word “aurora” means a natural display of shifting coloured lights in the night sky near the polar regions, caused by charged particles from the sun. In plain terms, the colourful natural light show seen in the sky near the North and South Poles, or, poetically, the dawn itself.
How do you pronounce “aurora”?
“Aurora” is pronounced uh-RAW-ruh (/əˈɹɔɹ.ə/ in IPA).
How do you use “aurora” in a sentence?
Here is “aurora” used in a sentence: “Tourists travel to Iceland hoping to see the aurora dance across the sky.”
What part of speech is “aurora”?
“Aurora” is a noun.
Where does the word “aurora” come from?
The word “aurora” comes from Latin. From Latin aurōra ("dawn"), also the name of the Roman goddess of the dawn.
Is “aurora” a common word?
“Aurora” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “aurora” have?
“Aurora” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a natural display of shifting coloured lights in the night sky near the polar regions, caused by charged particles from the sun.
What causes an aurora to appear in the sky?
An aurora is caused by charged particles from the sun colliding with gases in the upper atmosphere near the polar regions. This interaction produces shifting bands of coloured light, most visible in clear night skies at high latitudes.
What is the difference between the aurora borealis and the aurora australis?
Both terms describe the same natural phenomenon of coloured lights near the poles; "aurora borealis" refers to the display seen in the Northern Hemisphere, while "aurora australis" refers to the equivalent display in the Southern Hemisphere. The underlying cause, charged particles from the sun, is identical for both.
Can aurora refer to something other than the polar lights?
Yes. Aurora is also a literary term for the first light of dawn, used in poetry and older writing to describe daybreak rather than the polar light display.
