translucent
/tɹænzˈluː.sənt/
translucent means allowing light to pass through, but diffusing it. It carries an Arena rating of 1763, earned across 3 head-to-head judged battles.
Among words judged in Lexicurio's Arena, translucent ranks #750 of 17,120 for Most Beautiful Words, #1,447 of 17,113 for Most Elegant Words, #1,523 of 17,116 for Words That Escaped Their Books, #4,054 of 17,115 for Most Vivid Words.
translucent is pronounced /tɹænzˈluː.sənt/.
Why “translucent” is a great word
Allowing light to pass through but diffusing it so that objects on the other side are not clearly visible. From Latin trānslūcēns, present participle of trānslūcēre ("to shine through"), from trans- ("through") + lūcēre ("to shine"), first recorded in English use 1590–1600. Unlike transparent (which clarifies) or opaque (which denies), translucent is the mediator, the veil, the hush between yes and no. It is the alabaster lampshade, the wing of a moth held against the sun, and morning light filtered through a linen curtain—a soft, luminous barrier that promises yet protects the privacy of form, as if light itself hesitates before fully showing its face.
adj
- Allowing light to pass through, but diffusing it.e.g.“Near-synonym: semitransparent”
- Clear, lucid, or transparent.
noun
- Something that is translucent.
Words closest in meaning
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