luminescence

lu·mi·nes·cence

noun \-ˈne-s^ən(t)s\

Definition of LUMINESCENCE

: the low-temperature emission of light (as by a chemical or physiological process); also : light produced by luminescence

— lu·mi·nes·cent \-s^ənt\ adjective

Examples of LUMINESCENCE

1. the luminescence of the watch
2. <we could see inside the cave even without a flashlight because of the luminescence coming from some of the fungus on the walls>

Origin of LUMINESCENCE

International Scientific Vocabulary lumin- + -escence

First Known Use: 1889

Related to LUMINESCENCE

Synonyms: blaze, flare, fluorescence, glare, gleam, glow, illumination, incandescence, light, radiance, shine

Related Words: flash, glimmer, glint, glitter, scintillation, shimmer, sparkle, twinkle; daylight, moonlight, sunlight, sunshine; afterglow, aureole (or aureola), aurora, beam, halo, ray, shaft, streak, stream, sunbeam; glisten, gloss, luster (or lustre), polish, reflection, sheen

Near Antonyms: blackness, dark, darkness, dimness, dusk, duskiness, gloom, night, shadow

[+]more[-]hide