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color temperature

American  

noun

Optics, Photography.
  1. a temperature defined in terms of the temperature of a black body at which it emits light of a specified spectral distribution: used to specify the color of a light source.


Etymology

Origin of color temperature

First recorded in 1915–20


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

But if they’re replacing entire lamps, they could also tweak the color temperature to match the warmer feel that residents are pushing for.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 8, 2026

If you have them, look for diffusers and bulbs that offer warm colors — for LEDs, the color temperature should be a warm white of about 2,700 Kelvin — and make sure you have dimmers.

From Seattle Times ● Mar. 8, 2024

“For best fall color, temperature and the amount of moisture are the main influences coupled with the duration and angle of sunlight,” Kyle Cotner, creator of theFoliageReport.com, wrote in an email.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 7, 2022

The tone is measured by the color temperature of a lamp.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 20, 2022

This feature automatically adjusts the color temperature of your lights based on the time of day.

From The Verge ● Sep. 9, 2022

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