solar flare

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. flare.

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solar flare British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: flare.  a brief powerful eruption of particles and intense electromagnetic radiation from the sun's surface, associated with sunspots and causing disturbances to radio communication on earth See also solar wind

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solar flare Scientific  

1. A sudden eruption of hydrogen gas in the chromosphere of the Sun, usually associated with sunspots. Solar flares may last between several hours and several days, and have temperatures ranging from 20 to 100 million degrees K. The energy of a solar flare, which consists primarily of charged particles and x-rays, is comparable to tens of millions of hydrogen bombs, but is less than one-tenth the total energy emitted by the Sun every second. First observed in 1859, solar flares dramatically affect the Sun's weather and the solar wind, and are correlated with the appearance of auroras on the Earth.

2. See also prominence

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Etymology

Origin of solar flare

First recorded in 1935–40

Example Sentences

Much like a snow avalanche that starts with a small shift before cascading downhill, new observations show that solar flares begin with subtle magnetic disturbances that rapidly intensify.

From Science Daily

Such eruptions produce intense bursts of electromagnetic radiation called solar flares.

From Science Daily

Through no fault of our own, we might be hit by a planet-sterilizing asteroid or a civilization-threatening eruption of solar flares or radiation—long before our planet is inevitably swallowed up by the sun.

From The Wall Street Journal

In mid-November 2025, a large solar flare erupted from the surface of the Sun, resulting in a spectacular display of the Northern Lights in the UK.

From BBC

On Friday, Airbus announced a “precautionary fleet action” for A320-family jets that could be affected by solar flares.

From Barron's