infrared

adjective

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

Examples of infrared in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
The Netherlands and Belgium are testing for several crops a tiny drone that, using infrared light, can detect moths and chop them in half in mid-air. Shaun McKinnon, The Arizona Republic, 14 Oct. 2024 Recently, a separate team of astronomers peered into the heart of the Great Red Spot using the James Webb Space Telescope to capture new details in infrared light. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 11 Oct. 2024 Peer through the device’s viewfinder while scanning the room with its infrared light. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 10 Oct. 2024 Several people looked forward to being able to combine JWST measurements with ones from the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, which like JWST will observe infrared light from the early universe to tackle cosmological questions. Rebecca Boyle, Quanta Magazine, 9 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for infrared 

Word History

First Known Use

1881, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of infrared was in 1881

Dictionary Entries Near infrared

Cite this Entry

“Infrared.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/infrared. Accessed 14 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

infrared

adjective
in·​fra·​red ˌin-frə-ˈred How to pronounce infrared (audio)
-(ˌ)frä-
: being, relating to, producing, or using rays like light but lying outside the visible spectrum at its red end
infrared radiation
infrared noun

Medical Definition

infrared

1 of 2 adjective
in·​fra·​red ˌin-frə-ˈred How to pronounce infrared (audio)
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

2 of 2 noun
: infrared radiation

More from Merriam-Webster on infrared

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