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

This rapid rearrangement can heat plasma to millions of degrees and hurl energized particles away from the site, creating a solar flare.

From Science Daily • Jan. 21, 2026

It was a solar flare, starting somewhere deep inside of him and growing into a full-blown emoji.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 24, 2024

The X9 solar flare emitted is the largest categorised by Nasa.

From BBC • Oct. 4, 2024

Last week, the sun spewed out the biggest solar flare in almost 20 years, but it steered clear of Earth.

From Seattle Times • May 22, 2024

For example, every once in a while the sun releases a burst of deadly energy, called a solar flare.

From "Flying to the Moon: An Astronaut's Story" by Michael Collins