aura
noun
a distinctive and pervasive quality or character; air; atmosphere.
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aura
1 American
[awr-uh]
/ ˈɔr ə /
noun
-
auras,
plural
-
aurae
plural
-
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.
Aura
2
American
[awr-uh]
/ ˈɔr ə /
noun
Classical Mythology.
aura
British
/ ˈɔːrə /
noun
-
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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of aura
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Latin, from Greek: “breath (of air)”
Explanation
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.
Vocabulary lists containing aura
Matilda
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A Long Way Gone
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Scrabble: Four-Letter Words with 3 Vowels
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
In Argentina, the reward is the mantle of having "infinite aura."
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
On TikTok and Instagram, a person's "aura" alludes to their style or attitude, with "100% aura" high praise for the most effortlessly cool persona.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
But they were not aware of Myles Garrett’s aura.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 2, 2026
There’s a sense of childlike play in the work, but also an aura of the mythic, bringing to mind animal deities who hide deep in the wilds.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
As she leaves the train, I think about the last time I saw Ms. Lena; how she grabbed my hands, how I saw her vision, how she freaked out and her aura flickered.
From "The Manifestor Prophecy" by Angie Thomas
"Aura is a lifestyle" that "almost no one understands," said the organizer of an upcoming battle in Buenos Aires.
From Barron's ● Aug. 22, 2026
Xreal’s Google-powered Aura glasses do basically what a VR headset used to do, but in see-through glasses that weigh a sixth as much.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
Aura Salla, member of the European Parliament from Finland in the European People’s Party, said there is a growing acceptance that Europe needs technological sovereignty.
From Slate ● Feb. 13, 2026
Jasmine said she was scammed after searching on X for tickets to 1Way X Aura Thorpe Park on 15 March.
From BBC ● May 1, 2025
I use the Aura arcana to extract the paint and coat the new body-shaped canvas, coloring it the same shade as the sand that lines the royal beach.
From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton
Kew expert Tuula Niskanen found two of the Scottish species, including Cortinarius aurae, which she named after her daughter, Aura.
From BBC ● Dec. 17, 2020
War banners rustled from cedar ceiling beams as aurae blew back and forth, keeping everyone’s plates full.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
Just for a moment, one of the aurae became visible—an elfin girl in a white silk dress.
From "The Son of Neptune" by Rick Riordan
There was much talk of aurae at that time, and Fred mused that every beautiful, every compellingly beautiful woman, had an aura, whether other people did or no.
From The Song of the Lark by Willa Sibert Cather
These creations seem to glow, beckoning us toward their surfaces to be enveloped by the inviting auras they emit.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
"Spotify Wrapped flopped this year so bad. Like where are the music cities, the playlists, the top genres or the listening auras… all that wait for WHAT?"
From Salon ● Dec. 4, 2024
Ducrot’s installation underscored the theme of unique haute couture auras, garments that transcend fashion to reflect the wearer’s individuality.
From Seattle Times ● Jan. 22, 2024
Mr Bravo-Hibberd had experienced personality changes for at least a year and suffered from headaches, taste auras and confusion for about two weeks prior to his diagnosis.
From BBC ● Dec. 7, 2023
In Calumet a thousand ornate streetlamps stood in a swamp, where they did nothing but ignite the fog and summon auras of mosquitoes.
From "The Devil in the White City" by Erik Larson
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.
