persistence of vision

American  

noun

1. the retention of a visual image for a short period of time after the removal of the stimulus that produced it: the phenomenon that produces the illusion of movement when viewing motion pictures.

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Etymology

Origin of persistence of vision

First recorded in 1900–05

Example Sentences

To fill the gap, we get alternating snippets of monologues that must be jury-rigged into drama by the audience’s persistence of vision, which the playwright assists by linking them thematically.

From New York Times • Jun. 25, 2021

This persistence of vision is not an optical illusion.

From Washington Post • Apr. 5, 2021

Welles takes on a lot in “The Other Side” — men, women, the decline of Hollywood, the persistence of vision, and the charms, torments and betrayals of close male friendships.

From New York Times • Nov. 1, 2018

Because of the phenomenon of persistence of vision, the beads spinning in the light seem to flash complete circles.

From New York Times • Dec. 6, 2013

A thousandth is enough to give us a look around, due to persistence of vision; and it is short enough so that they won't see it unless they have a recording observer on us.

From Skylark Three by Wessolowski, Hans Waldemar