Meaning & use
aura
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Meanings
nouncountable
A distinctive quality or feeling that seems to surround and come from a person or place.
Grammar: Has a plural, auras; almost always followed by of plus a quality: an aura of calm.
Patterns
- an aura of mystery
- an aura of calm
- an aura of confidence
- have/possess an aura
The old temple had an aura of complete calm.
He walked into the room with an aura of quiet confidence.
There was an aura of mystery about the new neighbor.
nouncountable
An invisible field of energy that some people believe surrounds a living being and reflects its character or mood.
Grammar: Used with singular verbs in this belief system: her aura is said to glow.
Patterns
- read/sense someone's aura
Some spiritual teachers claim they can see a person's aura.
According to the book, each color in the aura has a different meaning.
nouncountablemedical
Strange sensations, such as flashes of light or unusual smells, that some people experience before a migraine or a seizure.
Grammar: Used in medical contexts with singular or plural verbs.
Patterns
- experience an aura
- an aura before a migraine
She sees zigzag lines as an aura before a migraine begins.
The doctor asked whether he noticed any aura before the seizure.
Word forms
| plural | auras |
|---|
Common combinations
- an aura of mystery
- The abandoned house had an aura of mystery about it.
- an aura of calm
- The garden had an aura of calm that helped her think.
- an aura of confidence
- The new coach projects an aura of confidence.
Synonyms and how they differ
- atmosphere
- Neutral word for the feeling of a place; aura adds a sense of something almost tangible.
- air
- Literary and close in meaning: an air of mystery; common before of.
- vibe
- Informal modern equivalent for the feeling a person or place gives.
Practice
Which word correctly completes the sentence? 'The old library had an aura ______ silence and dust.'
Choose one answer.
Aura is followed by 'of' plus the quality it suggests: an aura of silence. 'With' and 'about' are common learner guesses but do not fit this fixed pattern.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “aura”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.