umbra — ODE · Shobdo

umbra /ˈʌmbrə

▸ noun

(plural umbras)

(plural or umbrae /ˈʌmbriː/)

1 the fully shaded inner region of a shadow cast by an opaque object, especially the area on the earth or moon experiencing the total phase of an eclipse. Compare with penumbra

▪ Astronomy the dark central part of a sunspot.

2 [mass noun] literary shadow or darkness:

an impenetrable umbra seemed to fill every inch of the museum.

– DERIVATIVES

umbral adjective

– ORIGIN late 16th century (denoting a phantom or ghost): from Latin, literally ‘shade’.