incandescent

[in-kuhn-des-uhnt]

adjective

1. (of light) produced by incandescence.

2. glowing or white with heat.

3. intensely bright; brilliant.

4. brilliant; masterly; extraordinarily lucid.

   an incandescent masterpiece; incandescent wit.

5. aglow with ardor, purpose, etc..

   the incandescent vitality of youth.

   Synonyms: dynamic, brilliant

incandescent

/ ˌɪnkænˈdɛsənt /

adjective

1. emitting light as a result of being heated to a high temperature; red-hot or white-hot

2. informal,  extremely angry; raging

Other Word Forms

• incandescently adverb
• nonincandescent adjective
• nonincandescently adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of incandescent¹

1785–95; < Latin incandēscent- (stem of incandēscēns ), present participle of incandēscere to glow. See in- ², candescent

Word History and Origins

Origin of incandescent¹

C18: from Latin incandescere to become hot, glow, from _in- ² + candescere to grow bright, from candēre to be white; see _candid

Example Sentences

If we love fiercely, our ancestors live among and speak to us through these incandescent filaments glowing from the warmth of memories.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Overnight, AFP journalists saw Ukraine using tracer bullets and missile defence systems, and incandescent debris falling over large areas above the capital.

Read more on Barron's

The prime minister, I am told, is "incandescent" at how all of this has played out and is looking into how it all happened.

Read more on BBC

Some staff are incandescent, saying the prison system has been in crisis for a while now, but that the recent errors are why politicians are suddenly engaging.

Read more on BBC

But it did feel like a callback to an incandescent era — a young band enjoying its spoils at L.A.’s most infamous party palace.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• luminous 
• radiant 
• shining