pe|num|bra

pe|num|bra
pe|num|bra «pih NUHM bruh», noun, plural -brae «-bree», -bras.
1. the partial shadow outside of the complete shadow formed by the sun or moon during an eclipse: »

An observer within the umbra cannot see any part of the source; one within the penumbra can see a portion of the source, while from points outside the penumbra the entire source can be seen (Sears and Zamansky).

2. the grayish outer part of a sunspot: »

A complete and fully formed spot shows a dark central portion, known as the umbra, surrounded by a not-so-dark area called the penumbra (Wasley S. Krogdahl).

3. Figurative. a partial shade or shadow: »

One of the handicaps of poetry is that penumbra of holiness, the legacy of the nineteenth century, which still surrounds it (Atlantic).

╂[< New Latin penumbra < Latin paene almost + umbra shadow]

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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  • bra — ad·um·bra·tion; adum·bra·tive; Air·bra·sive; al·ge·bra·ic; al·ge·bra·ist; al·ge·bra·i·za·tion; al·ge·bra·ize; alum·bra·do; an·te·bra·chi·um; bra; bra·bant; bra·ce·ro; bra·chid·i·um; bra·chi·o·la; bra·chis·to·cephalic; bra·chis·to·chrone;… …   English syllables

  • num — abrot·a·num; al·bur·num; an·te·num·ber; an·te·ster·num; an·tir·rhi·num; apoc·y·num; ar·ca·num; ar·gen·to·pro·te·i·num; blech·num; buc·ci·num; co·ni·o·se·li·num; cri·num; dam·num; di·cra·num; do·num; du·o·de·num; epig·y·num; er·i·og·o·num;… …   English syllables

  • penumbra — pe·num·bra …   English syllables

  • penumbra — The region of partial illumination or radiation caused by light or x rays not originating from a point source; also called geometric unsharpness. [Mod. L., fr. L. paene, almost, + umbra, shadow] * * * pe·num·bra pə nəm brə n, pl brae (.)brē, .brī …   Medical dictionary

  • penumbra — pe•num•bra [[t]pɪˈnʌm brə[/t]] n. pl. brae( brē), bras. 1) astron. a) the partial or imperfect shadow outside the complete shadow of an opaque body, as a planet, where the light from the source of illumination is only partly cut off b) the… …   From formal English to slang

  • penumbra — pe·num·bra /pi nəm brə/ n pl bras 1: an area within which distinction or resolution is difficult or uncertain the public private penumbra 2: an extension of protection, reach, application, or consideration; esp: a body of rights held to be… …   Law dictionary

  • Penumbra — Pe*num bra, n. [NL., fr. L. paene almost + umbra shade.] 1. An incomplete or partial shadow. [1913 Webster] 2. (Astron.) The shadow cast, in an eclipse, where the light is partly, but not wholly, cut off by the intervening body; the space of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • penumbra — Pe*num bra, n. [NL., fr. L. paene almost + umbra shade.] 1. An incomplete or partial shadow. [1913 Webster] 2. (Astron.) The shadow cast, in an eclipse, where the light is partly, but not wholly, cut off by the intervening body; the space of… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • umbra — Penumbra Pe*num bra, n. [NL., fr. L. paene almost + umbra shade.] 1. An incomplete or partial shadow. [1913 Webster] 2. (Astron.) The shadow cast, in an eclipse, where the light is partly, but not wholly, cut off by the intervening body; the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • penumbra — pe|num|bra [pıˈnʌmbrə] n [Date: 1600 1700; : Modern Latin; Origin: Latin paene almost + umbra shadow ] technical an area of slight darkness …   Dictionary of contemporary English

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