umbra

[ uhm-bruh ]

noun

, plural um·bras, um·brae [uhm, -bree].

1. shade; shadow.
2. the invariable or characteristic accompaniment or companion of a person or thing.
3. Astronomy.
   1. the complete or perfect shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the direct light from the source of illumination is completely cut off. Compare penumbra ( def 1a ).
   2. the dark central portion of a sunspot. Compare penumbra ( def 1b ).
4. a phantom or shadowy apparition, as of someone or something not physically present; ghost; spectral image.

umbra

/ ˈʌmbrə /

noun

1. a region of complete shadow resulting from the total obstruction of light by an opaque object, esp the shadow cast by the moon onto the earth during a solar eclipse
2. the darker inner region of a sunspot

umbra

/ ŭm′brə /

, Plural umbras ŭm′brē

1. The darkest part of a shadow, especially the cone-shaped region of full shadow cast by Earth, the Moon, or another body during an eclipse. In a full lunar eclipse, which generally lasts for one or two hours, the entire disk of the Moon is darkened as it passes through the umbra. During this period the Moon takes on a faint reddish glow due to illumination by a small amount of sunlight that is refracted through the Earth's atmosphere and bent toward the darkened Moon; the reddish tint is caused by the filtering out of blue wavelengths as the sunlight passes through the Earth's atmosphere, leaving only the longer wavelengths on the red end of the spectrum.
2. See Note at eclipse
3. The dark central region of a sunspot.
4. Compare penumbra

Derived Forms

• ˈumbral, adjective

Other Words From

• um·bral adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of umbra¹

First recorded in 1600–10; from Latin: literally, “shade, shadow”

Word History and Origins

Origin of umbra¹

C16: from Latin: shade, shadow

Example Sentences

It loves the fig-trees with nothing but leaves; it adores the stat magni nominis umbra.

From Project Gutenberg

What signifies disputing about queen or king,—when men may sit at peace—sub umbra vitis sui?

From Project Gutenberg

The dark portion within the shadow has all the light excluded from it and is called the umbra.

From Project Gutenberg

The double of the Egyptian sepulchral records corresponds exactly to the of the Greeks and the umbra of the Latins.

From Project Gutenberg

For the “Romani nominis umbra,” the shadow of the mighty race whom they had conquered, lay heavy on our forefathers for centuries.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• body
• character
• creature
• ghost
• human being
• individual
• man
• person
• spirit
• woman