PENUMBRA


Meaning of PENUMBRA in English

[ pɪ'nʌmbrə ]

■ noun ( plural ~e -bri: or ~s )

1》 the partially shaded outer region of the shadow cast by an opaque object, especially the area of the earth or moon experiencing a partial eclipse.

2》 Astronomy the less dark outer part of a sunspot.

Derivatives

~l adjective

Origin

C17: mod. L., from L. paene 'almost' + umbra 'shadow'.

Concise Oxford English vocab.      Сжатый оксфордский словарь английского языка.