diffraction grating

noun

: grating sense 3

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web Through an electron microscope, Parker saw that Wiwaxia had a diffraction grating on its body, meaning a nanostructure composed of a series of parallel grooves that split wavelengths of light into colored rays, like the bottom of a CD. —

Tomas Weber, Smithsonian Magazine, 23 Dec. 2022 The arrangement splits and diffracts light into several beams in different directions in an optical concept known as diffraction grating. —

Elizabeth Gamillo, Smithsonian Magazine, 9 Dec. 2021 The basic idea is to pass the light through a diffraction grating—a bunch of very tiny parallel slits. —

Rhett Allain, Wired, 8 Oct. 2021 The beam was split because of the glass slide, a diffraction grating with thousands of tiny slits etched into it. —

Brittany Trang, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 15 June 2021 The colors are from the chocolate (not any ingredient or coating) diffracting light after being forcefully molded onto a diffraction grating in vacuum. —

Nora Mcgreevy, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 May 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'diffraction grating.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Word History

First Known Use

1857, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of diffraction grating was in 1857

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near diffraction grating

diffraction disk

diffraction grating

diffractometer

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Diffraction grating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/diffraction%20grating. Accessed 28 Mar. 2023.

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