Learn a Word Daily — Penumbra
Your Word of the Day — Penumbra: definition, nuance, usage & audio.
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Word of the Day · December 7, 2025
Penumbra
peh-NUM-bruh · noun
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Definition
- A partial shadow between full shadow and full illumination.
- A surrounding area in which something exists in a lesser degree.
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Origin & Etymology
From Latin paene “almost” + umbra “shadow.”
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Nuance
Used in astronomy, imaging, and metaphor.
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Usage
“A faint penumbra encircled the eclipse’s core shadow.”
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Fun Fact
Opposed to “umbra” (full shadow) and beyond it “antumbra.”
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