prominence

[ prom-uh-nuhns ]
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noun
  1. Also prom·i·nen·cy. the state of being prominent; conspicuousness.

  2. something that is prominent; a projection or protuberance: a prominence high over a ravine.

  1. Also called solar prominence. Astronomy. an eruption of a flamelike tongue of relatively cool, high-density gas from the solar chromosphere into the corona where it can be seen during a solar eclipse or by observing strong spectral lines in its emission spectrum.

Origin of prominence

1
First recorded in 1590–1600, prominence is from the Latin word prōminentia a jutting out, protuberance. See prominent, -ence

Other words for prominence

Other words from prominence

  • non·prom·i·nence, noun
  • o·ver·prom·i·nence, noun

Words Nearby prominence

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How to use prominence in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for prominence

prominence

/ (ˈprɒmɪnəns) /


noun
  1. the state or quality of being prominent

  2. something that is prominent, such as a protuberance

  1. relative importance or consequence

  2. astronomy an eruption of incandescent gas from the sun's surface that can reach an altitude of several hundred thousand kilometres. Prominences are visible during a total eclipse. When viewed in front of the brighter solar disc, they are called filaments

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for prominence

prominence

[ prŏmə-nəns ]


  1. An eruption of tonguelike clouds of glowing ionized gas extending from the Sun's chromosphere and sometimes reaching hundreds of thousands of kilometers into space. When viewed against the solar surface instead of along the edges of its disk, prominences appear as dark, sinuous lines known as filaments. Usually associated with sunspot activity, solar prominences can influence Earth's atmosphere by interfering with electromagnetic activity.Active prominences erupt suddenly and usually disappear within minutes or hours. Quiescent prominences form more smoothly and can last for several months. See also solar flare.

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