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infrared

adjective
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in·​fra·​red | \ ˌin-frə-ˈred How to pronounce infrared (audio) , -(ˌ)frä-, -fə- \

Definition of infrared

1 : situated outside the visible spectrum at its red end —used of radiation having a wavelength between about 700 nanometers and 1 millimeter
2 : relating to, producing, or employing infrared radiation infrared therapy
3 : sensitive to infrared radiation infrared sensors that detect body heat
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Other Words from infrared

infrared noun

Examples of infrared in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Together, the two experiments show that dogs, like vampire bats, can sense weak hot spots and that a specific region of their brains is activated by this infrared radiation, the scientists say. — Virginia Morell, Science | AAAS, "New sense discovered in dog noses: The ability to detect heat," 28 Feb. 2020 The beetles have heat sensors on their legs, which are sensitive to low levels of infrared radiation. — Jennifer Leman, Popular Mechanics, "May We All Praise the Amazing Dog Nose, and May We Then Boop It," 28 Feb. 2020 Just like polymers, wood contains chemical bonds that emit the right kind of infrared radiation, says Li. — Scientific American, "The Supercool Materials That Send Heat to Space," 17 Feb. 2020 When sunbeams warm an asteroid, that energy is later released as infrared radiation (think of how heat-vision goggles can spot warm humans), causing a recoil that’s miniscule but adds up over time. — Charlie Wood, Popular Science, "Asteroids go to pieces when their host star dies," 12 Feb. 2020 The visor research became more pressing with the need to protect astronauts' eyesight from ultraviolet and infrared radiation on the lunar surface. — Sig Christenson, ExpressNews.com, "At 97, scientist is last of the old breed at San Antonio’s former Brooks AFB," 29 Dec. 2019 But most outgoing infrared radiation is absorbed by heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere. — Jason West, The Conversation, "Why carbon dioxide has such outsized influence on Earth’s climate," 13 Sep. 2019 Murad City Skin Age Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50 PA++++ is safe for areas around the eyes, and shields skin from over 50 percent of blue light from handheld devices, pollution and infrared radiation, according to the manufacturer's site. — Darcel Rockett, chicagotribune.com, "What you need to know about sunscreen — from $8 to, yikes, $300," 5 July 2019 All objects lose heat in the form of infrared radiation, which is invisible to the human eye. — Angela Chen, The Verge, "How solar panels could cool our homes while harvesting energy," 12 Nov. 2018

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

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First Known Use of infrared

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Time Traveler for infrared

Time Traveler

The first known use of infrared was in 1881

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Statistics for infrared

Last Updated

24 Mar 2020

Cite this Entry

“Infrared.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infrared. Accessed 29 Mar. 2020.

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More Definitions for infrared

infrared

adjective
How to pronounce infrared (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of infrared

technical : producing or using rays of light that cannot be seen and that are longer than rays that produce red light

See the full definition for infrared in the English Language Learners Dictionary

infrared

adjective
in·​fra·​red | \ ˌin-frə-ˈred How to pronounce infrared (audio) \

Kids Definition of infrared

: being, relating to, or producing rays like light but lying outside the visible spectrum at its red end

infrared

adjective
in·​fra·​red | \ ˌin-frə-ˈred How to pronounce infrared (audio) \

Medical Definition of infrared

 (Entry 1 of 2)

1 : lying outside the visible spectrum at its red end —used of radiation having a wavelength between about 700 nanometers and 1 millimeter
2 : relating to, producing, or employing infrared radiation infrared therapy

infrared

noun

Medical Definition of infrared (Entry 2 of 2)

: infrared radiation

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More from Merriam-Webster on infrared

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with infrared

Spanish Central: Translation of infrared

Nglish: Translation of infrared for Spanish Speakers

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