aurora
noun
A natural light display in the sky, particularly in polar regions, caused by charged particles from the sun interacting with atmospheric gases; also, the dawn or the Roman goddess of dawn.
Etymology
From Latin Aurora, the Roman goddess of the dawn, from the Proto-Indo-European root *aus- meaning "to shine."
Examples in Use
- 1.
"The aurora borealis painted the Arctic sky in shimmering greens and purples."
- 2.
"We woke before aurora to begin our mountain climb."
- 3.
"Ancient Romans prayed to Aurora for favorable mornings."
Related Vocabulary
Synonyms
Related Words
Fun Fact
The aurora borealis (northern lights) and aurora australis (southern lights) are caused by solar wind particles colliding with oxygen and nitrogen in Earth's atmosphere at altitudes of 60-200 miles.
Word Game Tips
Letters: 6 letters (A, U, R, O, R, A)
Scrabble Value: 6 points
Tip: The letter pattern in "AURORA" appears in many related words.
Put Your Vocabulary to the Test!
Ready to find words like "aurora" in a puzzle? Try today's Zabble challenge!