incandescent
[in-kuh n-des-uh nt]
- (of light) produced by incandescence.
- glowing or white with heat.
- intensely bright; brilliant.
- brilliant; masterly; extraordinarily lucid: an incandescent masterpiece; incandescent wit.
- aglow with ardor, purpose, etc.: the incandescent vitality of youth.
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Origin of incandescent
1785–95; < Latin incandēscent- (stem of incandēscēns), present participle of incandēscere to glow. See in-2, candescent
Synonyms
See more synonyms for incandescent on Thesaurus.com5. electrifying, brilliant, dynamic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for incandescent
Contemporary Examples
To that end, the budget postpones federal phase-out of incandescent electric bulbs.
His bright idea turned out to be the incandescent light bulb, which he invented in 1880.
They last far longer than incandescent bulbs and save enormous amounts of energy.
The light of halogen lamps is slightly more “whiteish” than incandescent lamps.
Their dimming performance will rarely match that of an incandescent, but it is getting better as the technology improves.
Historical Examples
I was then taken to visit his incandescent ovens and his vats in a state of ebullition.
My Double LifeSarah Bernhardt
Their boat seemed to be sailing on the bosom of an incandescent stream.
The DownfallEmile Zola
Then leaf by leaf it dropped its petals until only an incandescent core was left.
MelomaniacsJames Huneker
When anything becomes hot enough to glow, we say it is incandescent.
Common ScienceCarleton W. Washburne
Then heat the top of the bubble till it is incandescent and blow violently.
On Laboratory ArtsRichard Threlfall
incandescent
- emitting light as a result of being heated to a high temperature; red-hot or white-hot
- informal extremely angry; raging
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Word Origin
C18: from Latin incandescere to become hot, glow, from in- ² + candescere to grow bright, from candēre to be white; see candid
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for incandescent
adj.
1794, from French incandescent or directly from Latin incandescentem (nominative incandescens), present participle of incandescere "become warm, glow, kindle," from in- "within" (see in- (2)) + candescere "begin to glow, become white," inceptive of candere "to glow, to shine" (see candle).
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper