solar flare

noun

: a sudden temporary outburst of energy from a small area of the sun's surface

called also flare

Examples of solar flare in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The sun ended the weekend with a bang as a sunspot rotating out of our view erupted with a powerful solar flare on Sunday afternoon. Meredith Garofalo, Space.com, 24 Feb. 2025 According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, some of this solar activity includes solar flares. Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 15 Feb. 2025 These three primary areas of focus highlight the types of impacts a solar flare can have on our environment, with the scales also providing information on the likelihood of a certain level occurring and the intensity of each category, which is rated on a scale of 1 to 5. Meredith Garofalo, Space.com, 9 Feb. 2025 Northern lights, also known as Aurora Borealis, are caused by magnetic storms triggered by solar activity, like solar flares (explosions on the sun) or coronal mass ejections (ejected gas bubbles). Skyler Caruso, People.com, 31 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for solar flare

Word History

First Known Use

1938, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of solar flare was in 1938

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Solar flare.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/solar%20flare. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

solar flare

noun
: a sudden temporary outburst of energy from a small area of the sun's surface

More from Merriam-Webster on solar flare

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