corona
|co-ro-na|
🇺🇸
/kəˈroʊnə/
🇬🇧
/kəˈrəʊnə/
luminous ring
Etymology
'corona' originates from Latin, specifically the word 'corōna', where 'corōna' meant 'garland' or 'crown'.
'corona' entered English via Old French (cf. 'corone') and Middle English (e.g. 'coroune'/'coron'), ultimately reflecting Latin 'corōna' and the earlier Greek word 'korōnē' meaning 'garland' or 'wreath'.
Initially it meant 'garland' or 'wreath'; over time it broadened to mean 'crown' and then extended metaphorically to ring-shaped structures (e.g., the sun's corona), electrical discharges, floral structures, and other crown- or ring-like forms.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a crown or crown-like decorative headpiece; a wreath or circle used as an ornament.
The ancient headdress was decorated with a golden corona.
Synonyms
Noun 2
the outer atmosphere of the sun or another star, visible as a glowing ring during a solar eclipse.
During the eclipse, the sun's corona was visible to the naked eye.
Synonyms
Noun 3
a luminous discharge or glow produced around a conductor due to ionization of the surrounding air (corona discharge).
Engineers measured the corona around the high-voltage line.
Synonyms
Noun 4
in botany, a crown-like or tubular structure formed by petals or other floral parts (for example, the trumpet-shaped part of a daffodil).
The daffodil's corona is bright yellow.
Synonyms
Noun 5
informal shorthand for coronavirus or the disease caused by it (used colloquially as 'the corona').
People stayed home during the corona outbreak.
Synonyms
Noun 6
in dentistry or anatomy, the crown or top part of a tooth or structure.
The dentist inspected the tooth's corona for signs of decay.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/09/15 10:40