Word of the Day

: May 19, 2010

translucent

adjective trans-LOO-sunt

What It Means

1 : not transparent but clear enough to allow light to pass through

2 : free from disguise or falseness

translucent in Context

The translucent window glass gave us enough daylight to work without allowing people standing outside to see in.

Did You Know?

Look closely and you will see the same three letters in "translucent" and "elucidate," letting the family relationship between the two words shine through. Both terms descend from the Latin word "lucēre," meaning "to shine." ("Translucent" is from "lucēre" plus "trans-," which means "through.") When you "elucidate" something, you make it clear by explaining it in a way that can be easily understood -- you "shed light on" it. "Lucēre" is also the root of another bright and shining English word, "lucid," which can mean either "bright with light" or "clear and easy to understand."