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

/ trăns-lo̅o̅′sənt /

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

Derived Forms

• transˈlucence, noun
• transˈlucently, adverb

Other Words From

• trans·lucence trans·lucen·cy noun
• trans·lucent·ly adverb
• subtrans·lucence noun
• subtrans·lucen·cy noun
• subtrans·lucent 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

Lay a piece of translucent paper over your design and use a pencil to fill in the areas that you want to be inked by the finished stamp.

From Popular-Science

Scientists aboard Falkor discovered the translucent, scaleless Mariana snailfish in 2014 while surveying the Mariana Trench, the deepest place on Earth.

From Nautilus

Now Mayhe, a municipal veterinarian in nearby Mangaratiba, was motorboating across translucent waters to see for himself.

From Washington Post

Turmeric dyes translucent vermicelli noodles deep golden for a stunning and delicious vegetarian main.

From Washington Post

There’s beauty everywhere in the world, as you’re reminded when you see sunlight filtered through a piglet’s translucent ears in Viktor Kosakovskiy’s radiant documentary Gunda.

From Time

Like thinner and translucent for summer and warmer for winter.

From The Daily Beast

When they are done, the casing has transformed from translucent membrane into chewy, wrinkled coat.

From The Daily Beast

The translucent green polyester has been stretched into door handles, moldings, and even a telephone.

From The Daily Beast

He used translucent fabrics to suggest nudity without ever really revealing very much.

From The Daily Beast

A new facade will be made from translucent plastic panels, with sliding sections that will let the park seem to enter the center.

From The Daily Beast

A band of limestone also occurs at Templeton containing masses of a light-coloured translucent serpentine.

From Project Gutenberg

Two of the four walls of the guest-room were of shoji, a lattice covered with translucent rice-paper.

From Project Gutenberg

Tatsu had, as rudely, reopened the shoji panels, tearing a large hole in the translucent paper.

From Project Gutenberg

Common camphor forms a translucent mass of hexagonal prisms, melting at 175 and boiling at 204.

From Project Gutenberg

As they waddled closer they puffed under the weight of heavy belts sagging with rows of odd, translucent instruments.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• crystalline
• luminous
• see-through