sunrise
n. C / Un. the time in the morning when the sun first appears in the sky. It is also the beautiful colors you see during this time.
n. the daily appearance of the sun above the eastern horizon. Often used to refer to the atmospheric effects and light quality occurring at this specific time.
We woke up early to watch the sunrise over the ocean.
The hikers reached the summit just before sunrise to enjoy the view of the valley.
The photographer captured the fleeting moment of sunrise, when the golden light perfectly illuminated the mist rising from the lake.
From Middle English sonne-rys, sunne ryse, equivalent to sun + rise. Compare Middle English son risyng, sunne rijsyng, sonne-rysing (“sunrise”, literally “sun rising”).
Countable when referring to the event on a specific day; uncountable when referring to the general phenomenon or time of day.