Fata morgana
/ˌfɑtə mɔɹˈɡɑnə/ noun
noun ·Rare ·Advanced level
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A form of mirage seen just above the horizon, caused by a temperature inversion in the atmosphere, in which multiple upright and inverted images of a distant object appear to be stacked on top of each other in a highly distorted fashion; especially one seen at sea, and particularly in the Strait of Messina.
- 2 Alternative letter-case form of Fata Morgana. alt-of
"On the other side of the electric fence, the fata morgana shimmers."
- 3 a mirage in the Strait of Messina (attributed to the Arthurian sorcerer Morgan le Fay) wordnet
Example
More examples"On the other side of the electric fence, the fata morgana shimmers."
Etymology
Borrowed from Italian fata Morgana (“Morgan le Fay”), from fata (“fairy”) + Morgana (“Morgan”).