WordWeight : Weighing the Words

Pronunciation : Um"bra
Part of Speech : n.;
Etymology : [L., a shadow.]
Definition : 1. (Astron.) (a) The conical shadow projected from a planet or satellite, on the side opposite to the sun, within which a spectator could see no portion of the sun's disk; -- used in contradistinction from penumbra. See Penumbra. (b) The central dark portion, or nucleus, of a sun spot. (c) The fainter part of a sun spot; -- now more commonly called penumbra.

2. (Zo?l.)

Defn: Any one of several species of sci?noid food fishes of the genus Umbrina, especially the Mediterranean species (U. cirrhosa), which is highly esteemed as a market fish; -- called also ombre, and umbrine. Umbra tree (Bot.), a tree (Phytolacca diocia) of the same genus as pokeweed. It is native of South America, but is now grown in southern Europe. It has large dark leaves, and a somber aspect. The juice of its berries is used for coloring wine. J. Smith (Dict. Econ. Plants).

pl. Umbr
Source : Webster's Unabridged Dictionary, 1913