Definitions
01the sun's atmosphere
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun Science Technical
n. the outer layer of the sun's atmosphere that looks like a white ring of light during an eclipse.
n. the rarefied gaseous envelope of the sun or other star, typically visible during a total solar eclipse as a luminous irregular halo.
“During the total eclipse, the sun's corona was visible as a glowing white ring.”
“The solar corona consists of extremely hot plasma that extends millions of kilometres into space, though it is usually obscured by the sun's brightness.”
02virus or disease
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Medicine Informal
n. a common short name for a coronavirus or the illness it causes, like COVID-19.
n. a colloquial shorthand for a coronavirus, particularly SARS-CoV-2, or the respiratory disease resulting from the infection.
“Many businesses had to close for a few months because of corona.”
“Public health guidelines were updated frequently during the peak of the corona outbreak to mitigate community transmission.”
Synonyms
03ring of light
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Technical
n. a circle of light that appears around the sun or moon when there are clouds or mist.
n. an optical phenomenon consisting of one or more concentric colored rings around a celestial body, caused by the diffraction of light by water droplets.
“A beautiful corona appeared around the moon through the thin clouds.”
“Unlike a rainbow, a corona is produced by diffraction rather than refraction, resulting in a smaller and more intense ring of light.”
Synonyms
04anatomy/biology
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a part of a plant or animal body that looks like a crown.
n. any crown-like structure or appendage of an organism, such as the top of a tooth or a ring of petals.
“The dentist checked the corona of the tooth for any signs of damage.”
“In botany, the corona of a daffodil is the cup-shaped part in the center of the flower that holds the pollen.”
05a cigar
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Technical
n. a long, straight cigar with a rounded end.
n. a specific size and shape of cigar, typically long and straight-sided with a blunt, rounded head.
“He sat on the porch after dinner, slowly smoking a corona.”
“The connoisseur preferred the corona for its consistent burn and the specific volume of smoke it produced compared to smaller varieties.”
Real-World Examples
“Why is the Sun's corona millions of degrees hotter than its surface?” “Then there is the corona, the Sun’s million-degree outer atmosphere.” Etymology
The noun is borrowed from Latin corōna (“crown; garland, wreath”), from Ancient Greek κορώνη (korṓnē, “type of crown; curved object (door handle, tip of a bow, stern of a ship, etc.)”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)ker- (“to turn, bend”). The English word is a doublet of crown, korona, koruna, krona, króna, and krone. The plural form coronae is borrowed from Latin corōnae. The verb is derived from the noun.
A clipping of coronavirus, ultimately from etymology 1.
Borrowed from Italian corona.
Borrowed from Spanish La Corona (literally “The Crown”), a brand of cigars from Havana, Cuba.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0