If you ask us, there’s just about nothing better than sipping on an ice-cold Corona with lime while taking in the salty air at the beach. A brand of beer produced by Mexican brewery Cerveceria Modelo, Corona is one of the top-selling brands of imported beer in the United States.

That said, although “corona” is widely known as the name of a tasty beverage, it also means crown, and it can also be used to refer to the appearance that coronaviruses get from the spike proteins sticking out of them.

Interested in learning more about the wide array of definitions of the word corona? We can help. Read on to discover everything you need to know about corona.

What Is the Definition of Corona?

kəˈrōnə / / kəˈroʊnə

Corona is a word that many of us use when we are talking about the coronavirus pandemic, the coronavirus disease, and all things related to the infectious disease caused by SARS-CoV-2.

Throughout the various lockdowns that have happened during the global pandemic and as new variants emerge, such as the omicron variant, the word corona has gained plenty of traction these last couple of years.

With all that being said, we have scoured countless trusted English Dictionaries to bring you a few of the more commonly used definitions of the word of the day — corona:

Mainly used in reference to the moon or sun, corona can be used to reference concentric set of circles or singular colored or white set circles that can be seen around a luminous body.
In astronomy, a corona is a word used to reference the outer atmosphere of the sun; it can also be used to reference a ring of colored light formed by the diffraction of light caused by dust or even mist
Corona is also a word used to reference a straight long, and untapered cigar that is rounded at its closed-end
In the botanist community, corona is defined as the cup-shaped or trumpet-shaped outgrowth of the corolla of a narcissus flower or a daffodil flower.
In anatomy, corona can be used to reference any structure that resembles the shape of a crown.
If you are keen on architecture terminology, you may already know that corona can also be used in reference to the top projection of a cornice.

With all the various definitions of the word corona, always be sure to let your peers know the proper context when using corona in all forms of conversation.

What Is the Etymology of Corona?

With its ever vast list of definitions, we believe one of the better ways to understand the word corona is by looking into its etymology. Since etymology by definition is the study of how a word definition may change over the course of time.

In the 1650s, corona was first used in reference to “a crown,” deriving from the Latin word corona, which literally means a garland or a crown. Corona was especially used in Ancient Rome, defined here as a garland bestowed for distinguished military service or a crown.

The noun has many extended senses ranging but not limited to anatomy, astronomy, and even botany — in 1876, the word corona was used as the brand name for a particular brand of Cuban cigars.

What Are the Antonyms and Synonyms of Corona?

Below you will find a list of synonyms provided by Power Thesaurus:

Crown of light
Circlet
Halo
Crown
Ring of light
Aurora
Halation
Tongue of flame
Garland
Wreath
Circle
Aureole
Band

Below you will find a list of antonyms as well:

Regenerate
Treatment for coronavirus
Coronavirus antibodies
E-cigarette
Vape

Examples of Corona in a Sentence

To help better retain our newfound knowledge on the word of the day, corona, we have included a few example sentences on the proper usage of corona in a sentence.

Below are example sentences:

“When I was visiting my brother in New York, we enjoyed my favorite Spanish beer from sun up till sundown: Corona.”

“I’m pretty sure I just have a common cold but my spouse worries and thinks I have corona.”

“It has been pretty apparent with the surge of death due to corona that our current healthcare system is just not up to par.”

“As an RNA that has been dealing with nothing but sneeze after sneeze all day and what feels like an oncoming respiratory illness, I knew I shouldn’t, but after a long day’s work, I had to crack open a cold corona.”

Recap

Hopefully, by now, we have been able to help you better understand the word of the day — corona — and its various definitions, such as a glowing circle of light that can be seen around an object.

Just remember, if you plan to look at the Sun’s corona during the next total solar eclipse, be sure to wear the appropriate protective eyewear and, as always, stay safe!

Sources:

Corona synonyms – 94 Words and Phrases for Corona | Power Thesaurus

Symptoms of COVID-19 | CDC

Corona definition and meaning | Collins English Dictionary

What Is Coronavirus? | Johns Hopkins Medicine