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.

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Etymology

Origin of color temperature

First recorded in 1915–20

Example Sentences

A cooler color temperature and a feeling of dread add to the faux persona environment, each hinting at the unwanted world closing in on him.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 30, 2024

Whether you use dim-to-warm lights or not, all of the fixtures in your kitchen should be a similar color temperature.

From Seattle Times • Jan. 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

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

From The Verge • Sep. 9, 2022

Scientists are increasingly realizing that other qualities are just as important for understanding ocean zones: salinity, light, color, temperature, even life-forms.

From Scientific American • Jul. 20, 2022