Finesentence mobile logo
Sign in Login / Register

Luminance: meaning, definitions and examples

💡
Add to dictionary

luminance

 

[ ˈluːmɪnəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

measurement of brightness

Luminance is a measure of the amount of light that is emitted or reflected from a surface. It is the perceived brightness of an object or area, usually expressed in candelas per square meter (cd/m²) or nits. Luminance is an essential parameter in the field of lighting design and display technology.

Synonyms

brightness, light level, luminosity.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
luminance

Typically used in technical or scientific contexts to describe the intensity of light emitted or reflected from a surface in a given direction.

  • The monitor's luminance is measured in candelas per square meter
brightness

Commonly used in everyday conversation to describe how bright light appears to the human eye. It can be subjective and qualitative.

  • Adjust the brightness on your phone screen to make it easier to read
luminosity

Primarily used in astrophysics and other scientific fields to describe the intrinsic brightness of a celestial object. It does not change with distance from the observer.

  • The sun's luminosity is a key factor in determining the climate on Earth
light level

Usually refers to the amount of light present in a particular environment or location. Used in both casual and technical conversations.

  • The light level in the room was too low for reading

Examples of usage

  • The luminance of the screen can be adjusted to reduce eye strain.
  • High luminance levels are important for outdoor signage to ensure visibility.
  • The camera sensor detects changes in luminance to adjust exposure settings.

Translations

Translations of the word "luminance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 luminância

🇮🇳 उजाला

🇩🇪 Helligkeit

🇮🇩 kecerahan

🇺🇦 яскравість

🇵🇱 luminancja

🇯🇵 輝度 (きど)

🇫🇷 luminance

🇪🇸 luminancia

🇹🇷 parlaklık

🇰🇷 휘도

🇸🇦 سطوع

🇨🇿 světelnost

🇸🇰 svetelnosť

🇨🇳 亮度 (liàngdù)

🇸🇮 luminanca

🇮🇸 ljósstyrkur

🇰🇿 жарықтық

🇬🇪 ლუმინანცია

🇦🇿 işıqlılıq

🇲🇽 luminancia

Etymology

The word 'luminance' originated from the Latin word 'luminantia', which means 'shining'. It has been used in the field of physics and optics to describe the brightness of light sources and surfaces. The concept of luminance has been fundamental in the development of lighting technology and visual display systems.