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# sunspot

noun (a sunspot, sunspots)

«sunspot» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. A dark, cooler patch that appears for a while on the surface of the Sun. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#m1)
2. (informal, UK) A sunny place where people go on holiday. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#m2)

### In the lessons

In science lessons sunspots show that the Sun is not a smooth, calm ball: its surface changes, and the number of sunspots rises and falls in a cycle of about eleven years. Scientists count them to study the Sun's activity, which can cause bright auroras on Earth. In travel talk «a holiday sunspot» means a warm, sunny resort. Phrases: «sunspot cycle», «solar flares and sunspots».

### Examples

- Sunspots look dark only because they are cooler than the gas around them. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#x1)
- You must never look straight at the Sun to find sunspots. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#x2)
- Astronomers project the Sun's image onto paper to see sunspots safely. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#x3)
- The number of sunspots goes up and down about every eleven years. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#x4)
- A big sunspot can be wider than the whole Earth. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#x5)
- Lots of sunspots can mean more northern lights. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#x6)
- Spain is a favourite sunspot for families from Ireland in summer. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/#x7)

### Note

Countable noun: one sunspot, two sunspots. One word, not «sun spot». A sunspot is still extremely hot; it is only cooler than the rest of the Sun's surface. Safety: never look at the Sun directly or through binoculars to see one.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «sunspot» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/sunspot/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«sunspot» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/sunspot.html) on Mova free.