plage

American  

[plahzh] / plɑʒ /

noun

1. a sandy bathing beach at a seashore resort.

2. Astronomy. a luminous area in the sun's chromosphere that appears in the vicinity of a sunspot.

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plage British  

/ plɑːʒ /

noun

1. astronomy a bright patch in the sun's chromosphere

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plage Scientific  

/ pläzh /

1. A bright and intensely hot area in the Sun's chromosphere, usually associated with a sunspot. It is typically brighter than its surroundings but may be indistinguishable due to lack of contrast. Plages are sources of strong ultraviolet radiation.

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Etymology

Origin of plage

First recorded in 1885–90; from French, from Italian piaggia, from Late Latin plagia “shore,” noun use of feminine of plagius “horizontal,” from Greek plágia (neuter plural) “sides (of a mountain), flanks (of an army),” noun use of plágios “oblique, slanting, sideways”; plagio-

Example Sentences

He believes the artist is referencing the student uprising in Paris in 1968, which had the slogan "sous les pavés, la plage!"

From BBC • Aug. 9, 2021

So when we approached a large sign that said “Cimetiere colonial de la plage des raisins clairs,” that’s what we assumed it was referring to.

From Washington Post • Mar. 8, 2018

Le New York Times a sollicité leurs avis, et les réponses — plus de 1000 messages de Belgique, de France et d’ailleurs — vont bien au-delà de la question des tenues de plage.

From New York Times • Sep. 2, 2016

And the French have August, so I’m not sure if they’ll be reading this week’s linker, or packing pour la plage.

From Forbes • Jul. 26, 2013

The Airds and their set bathed, not from the crowded plage of Dinard proper, but in the quieter bay of St Enogat.

From The Tower of Oblivion by Onions, Oliver [pseud.]