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Translucence: meaning, definitions and examples

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translucence

 

[ trænsˈluːsəns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

light property

Translucence refers to the quality of allowing light to pass through a material without allowing detailed shapes to be seen clearly. It is an intermediate state between transparency, where objects can be seen clearly, and opacity, where light cannot pass through at all. Materials that exhibit translucence scatter light, making them appear somewhat cloudy or semi-transparent. Common examples of translucent materials include frosted glass, certain plastics, and wax paper, which diffuse light and create a soft glow when illuminated.

Synonyms

cloudiness, opacity, semi-transparency.

Examples of usage

  • The frosted glass provided translucence while maintaining privacy.
  • Artists often use materials with translucence to create ethereal effects in their paintings.
  • The translucence of the curtains allowed sunlight to gently illuminate the room.

Translations

Translations of the word "translucence" in other languages:

🇵🇹 translúcida

🇮🇳 पारदर्शिता

🇩🇪 Transluzenz

🇮🇩 translusensi

🇺🇦 напівпрозорість

🇵🇱 translucencja

🇯🇵 半透明性

🇫🇷 translucidité

🇪🇸 translucidez

🇹🇷 saydamlık

🇰🇷 반투명성

🇸🇦 شفافية

🇨🇿 průsvitnost

🇸🇰 priehľadnosť

🇨🇳 半透明性

🇸🇮 prosojnost

🇮🇸 gegndræpi

🇰🇿 жарқындық

🇬🇪 გასჭვრეტადობა

🇦🇿 şəffaflıq

🇲🇽 translucidez

Etymology

The word 'translucence' is derived from the Latin term 'translucent-', which means 'to shine through'. This comes from the combination of 'trans-', meaning 'through', and 'lucere', meaning 'to shine'. The first known use of the term in English dates back to the early 19th century, capturing the essence of materials that allow light to pass through but obscure clear images. The understanding and application of translucence have evolved, particularly in fields such as material science, art, and design, where the manipulation of light plays a critical role in aesthetics and functionality.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #37,698, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.