Kirlian photography
noun
Kir·li·an photography
ˈkir-lē-ən- 
: a process in which an image is obtained by application of a high-frequency electric field to an object so that it radiates a characteristic pattern of luminescence that is recorded on photographic film
Kirlian photograph
noun
Examples of Kirlian photography in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The technique used to capture this electrical flow is called Kirlian photography, named after the Russian electrical engineer Semyon Kirlian who discovered that if an object on a photographic plate is connected to a high-voltage source, an image is produced on the photographic plate.
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Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2013
Discover Magazine, 10 Jan. 2013
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Kirlian photography.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Semën D. Kirlian †1978 and Valentina Kh. Kirlian †1971 Soviet inventors
First Known Use
1972, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of Kirlian photography was
in 1972
Dictionary Entries Near Kirlian photography
Cite this Entry
“Kirlian photography.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Kirlian%20photography. Accessed 30 Nov. 2023.
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