# aura

/ˈɔɹə/ (US) · /ˈɔːɹɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/aura
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. atmosphere or vibe

noun · CEFR B2

the special feeling or mood that a person, place, or thing seems to have.

For teachers: a distinctive atmosphere or quality that seems to surround and be generated by a person, thing, or place.

- The old library had a quiet, peaceful aura that made it easy to study.
- The candidate projected an aura of calm confidence during the debate, which helped reassure voters who were undecided about his experience.

### 2. medical warning sign

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a strange feeling or visual change that some people get just before a migraine or a seizure.

For teachers: a subjective sensory disturbance, such as seeing flashing lights or smelling something strange, that precedes a migraine or epileptic seizure.

- She knew a headache was coming because she started seeing a strange aura in her vision.
- The patient reported a distinct olfactory aura involving the scent of burnt toast approximately five minutes before the onset of the seizure.

Usage: Often used with the indefinite article 'an' or as an uncountable noun in clinical contexts.

### 3. spiritual energy

noun · CEFR B2

a glow or energy that some people believe surrounds living things.

For teachers: a supposed invisible emanation or field of energy surrounding a person or object, often associated with New Age or mystical beliefs.

- The psychic claimed she could see a bright yellow aura around the young man.
- In many spiritual traditions, a golden aura is depicted around the heads of saints to represent their divine enlightenment.

### 4. coolness or charisma

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

the level of coolness, style, or respect a person has.

For teachers: the perceived charisma, social standing, or 'coolness' of an individual, often used in the context of gaining or losing social points.

- Tripping in front of your crush is a quick way to lose aura.
- The striker's aura was so immense that the defenders seemed intimidated before the match even started.

Teaching tip: This is a very modern use popular on social media; it is often used with 'points' (e.g., 'minus 100 aura').

## Examples

- She has a calm and peaceful aura.
- The old library has a quiet, serious aura that makes visitors speak in whispers.
- Despite his modest appearance, the professor carried an aura of intellectual authority that commanded immediate respect from every student in the lecture hall.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.