incandescence

noun

Save Word

in·can·des·cence | \ ˌin-kən-ˈde-sᵊn(t)s

also -(ˌ)kan- \

Definition of incandescence

: the quality or state of being incandescent especially : emission by a hot body of radiation that makes it visible

Synonyms Example Sentences Learn More about incandescence

Keep scrolling for more

Examples of incandescence in a Sentence

candles made from whale oil were once highly prized because they burned with an incandescence superior to that of other candles

Recent Examples on the Web The night offers its own solace — the hard, familiar stars, the oceanic incandescence of the aurora borealis. — Ned Rozell, Anchorage Daily News, "Remembering Sherry Simpson and her gift of keen observation," 21 Nov. 2020 The ad reads, KEEP IT CLEAN, with Kebede issuing a mix of Hepburn’s incandescence and Janelle Monáe’s dapper, easy style. — Harper's BAZAAR, "The Staying Power of Liya Kebede," 20 Oct. 2020 Once ritualized, a small event acquires an incandescence and a timeless eloquence. — André Aciman, Town & Country, "How a Pandemic Brought Us Back to the Table," 18 June 2020 But the infrared camera of another observatory in space, NASA’s Spitzer Space Telescope, failed to find any incandescence there. — Robin George Andrews, New York Times, "The Case of the Disappearing Exoplanet," 20 Apr. 2020 In the face of celebrity’s special incandescence, perhaps there is no need for an origin story of mundanities like talent and hard work. — Sarah Resnick, The New Yorker, "The Tragedy of Celebrity in Anne Enright’s “Actress”," 9 Mar. 2020 To take advantage of incandescence, Edison experimented initially with platinum. — National Geographic, "Edison and Tesla's cutthroat 'Current War' ushered in the electric age," 27 Sep. 2019 The show's flaws fade away next to the star's incandescence. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'Tina: The Tina Turner Musical': Theater Review," 8 Nov. 2019 The wall behind it, worn and discolored, has a scruffy incandescence. — Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "Painter brings sharp eye for light, life to Pittsfield’s Hancock Shaker Village," 28 Aug. 2019

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