noun

corona

kuh-ROH-nuh

noun

The glowing outer atmosphere of the sun, visible as a bright ring during a total solar eclipse.

"Photographers waited for totality to capture the sun's corona."

A ring or halo of light around a bright object, such as the sun or moon.

"A faint corona surrounded the moon that night."

A coronavirus, or informally, COVID-19.

"Half the office was out with corona that week."

How to Use Corona

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA glowing ring of light around the sun, moon, or another bright object; informally, a coronavirus infection.

When to use it

Using "corona" alone to mean COVID-19 is informal/colloquial.

Common pairings

solar corona corona discharge

coronaed past tense, coronas plural, coronae plural, coronæ plural, coronas plural, coronas plural, corone plural, coronas plural, coronas singular

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Photographers waited for totality to capture the sun's _____.

From Latin "corona" ("crown, garland"), from Greek "korōnē." A doublet of "crown" and "krone."

Ona mona bona Nona Iona rona Oona Sona Dona Shona Fiona Leona