penumbra C2 Topic:Register & Style US /pəˈnʌm.bɹə/ See IPA manual Freq #103429 Meanings 1 noun A region around the edge of a sunspot, darker than the sun's surface but lighter than the middle of the sunspot. The atmosphere was very clear, evidenced by the steadiness with which the mottling of the sun’s surface and the penumbræ of several spots were visible. 2 noun An area of uncertainty or intermediacy between two mutually exclusive states or categories. These firms or businesses are not illegal in the strict sense, but there is a shadowy penumbra within which they live, and it is often convenient for the government to look the other way. Thesaurus Synonyms 2 noun · an area of uncertainty or... grey area Word family Derived forms penumbralpenumbrous Etymology From New Latin pēnumbra, from Latin paene (“almost”) + umbra (“shadow”). Topics Register & Style External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # penumbra **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /pəˈnʌm.bɹə/ **Frequency rank:** 103429 ## Meanings 1. A region around the edge of a sunspot, darker than the sun's surface but lighter than the middle of the sunspot. 2. An area of uncertainty or intermediacy between two mutually exclusive states or categories. ## Examples - The atmosphere was very clear, evidenced by the steadiness with which the mottling of the sun’s surface and the penumbræ of several spots were visible. - These firms or businesses are not illegal in the strict sense, but there is a shadowy penumbra within which they live, and it is often convenient for the government to look the other way. ## Synonyms - grey area ## Derived Forms - penumbral - penumbrous ## Etymology From New Latin pēnumbra, from Latin paene (“almost”) + umbra (“shadow”). ## Topics - Register & Style markdown