translucent

[trans-loo-suhnt, tranz-]

adjective

1. permitting light to pass through but diffusing it so that persons, objects, etc., on the opposite side are not clearly visible.

   Frosted window glass is translucent but not transparent.

   Antonyms: opaque

2. easily understandable; lucid.

   a translucent explication.

3. clear; transparent.

   translucent seawater.

translucent

/ trænzˈluːsənt /

adjective

1. allowing light to pass through partially or diffusely; semitransparent

translucent

1. Allowing radiation (most commonly light) to pass through, but causing diffusion. Frosted glass, for example, is translucent to visible light.

2. Compare transparent

Other Word Forms

• translucence noun
• translucency noun
• translucently adverb
• subtranslucence noun
• subtranslucency noun
• subtranslucent adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of translucent¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; from Latin trānslūcent- (stem of trānslūcēns ), present participle of trānslūcēre “to shine through”; trans-, lucent

Word History and Origins

Origin of translucent¹

C16: from Latin translūcēre to shine through, from _trans- + lūcēre to shine

Synonym Study

See transparent.

Example Sentences

I tear my eyes away and fix them onto translucent holograms emitting from small pucks on the ground, positioned at the corners of some of these tents.

Read more on Literature

To catch the minute, translucent fish, fishermen often use mosquito nets in wooden frames.

Read more on Barron's

On “Blues for Langston,” this invites Mr. Lloyd to glide freely and with a gorgeously translucent flute tone.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The exterior is covered in hieroglyphs and translucent alabaster cut into triangles with a pyramid shaped entrance.

Read more on BBC

She was connected to an oxygen supply via a translucent green cable she referred to as her “dog leash.”

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• crystalline 
• luminous 
• see-through