opalescence

Meaning

1. (countable, uncountable) the state of being opalescent
2. (countable, uncountable) the milky iridescent appearance of a dense transparent medium when it is illuminated by polychromatic visible radiation (such as sunlight) due to local fluctuations in its density and therefore in its refractive index

Synonyms

iridescence

milkiness

opacification

optical properties

phosphorescence

polarization

refractive index

translucence

transparency

opacifying

opalization

light dispersion

Translations

opalescenza

opalescencia

opalescence

iridescenza

Schillern

opalescência

Opaleszenz

opalescència

irisation

iridescència

optische Eigenschaft

Lichtdurchlässigkeit

ιριδισμός

Phosporeszenz

Etymology

From opal + -escence.