a distinctive and pervasive quality or character; air; atmosphere.
an aura of respectability;
an aura of friendliness.
a subtly pervasive quality or atmosphere seen as emanating from a person, place, or thing.
Pathology. a sensation, as of lights or a current of warm or cold air, preceding an attack of migraine or epilepsy.
a distinctive air or quality considered to be characteristic of a person or thing
any invisible emanation, such as a scent or odour
pathol strange sensations, such as noises in the ears or flashes of light, that immediately precede an attack, esp of epilepsy
(in parapsychology) an invisible emanation produced by and surrounding a person or object: alleged to be discernible by individuals of supernormal sensibility
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek: “breath (of air)”
You know that intangible glow, that certain magical something that your mom gives off? Get your glasses fixed and you'll see the aura emanating from her head isn't her special powers — just your bad eyes. You may have heard the noun aura used to describe the atmosphere surrounding something magical, like a fairy, or around a living being, like the calm vibes emanating from a meditating yogi. But did you know that it can refer to the sensation — one of coolness or bright light — that’s experienced before the onset of a seizure or migraine? Aura can also apply to the force that some people believe radiates from living organisms as an indicator of their unique essence.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
What Williams has in her favour is one of the greatest technical talents ever seen - and an incomparable aura.
From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026
Like much of what Glass wrote, the scene turned out to be utter fiction, but it was a measure of Greenspan’s aura that at the time it seemed plausible.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 22, 2026
Collins’ dramatic upset gave her an aura of invincibility.
From Slate • Jun. 16, 2026
His naiveté begins to feel contrived, a way to preserve a hazy aura of romance and menace.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
If Jason no longer gave off the right sort of vibe, or the aura of a Roman leader...
From "The House of Hades" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
