opalescent

adjective

opal·​es·​cent ˌō-pə-ˈle-sᵊnt How to pronounce opalescent (audio)
: reflecting an iridescent light
opalescence noun
opalescently adverb

Examples of opalescent in a Sentence

once given away as a cheap prize at carnivals, this opalescent glass is now highly prized by collectors
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The quality of the light not quite the same, softer, more opalescent, and part of the pool in the shade, making the water there look flat and deep. David Szalay, The New Yorker, 1 Dec. 2024 Her nails, designed by her go-to nail artist Miho Okawara, were a long almond shape painted with an iridescent pale gray with an opalescent finish that shifted from pale pink to pale blue with the light. Kara Nesvig, Allure, 21 Oct. 2024 Inside a wet glint, opalescent, full as an egg of creamy gray shadow, sediment ground down finely and suspended like a verdict in a tone. Frances Leviston, The New York Review of Books, 26 Sep. 2024 Available in over a dozen options—from the light periwinkle (Dream Much) seen here, with inflections of pink and silver, to metallic and opalescent white—there are a variety of pretty shades and finishes to choose from. Allure, 3 Aug. 2024 See all Example Sentences for opalescent 

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1813, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of opalescent was circa 1813

Dictionary Entries Near opalescent

Cite this Entry

“Opalescent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opalescent. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

opalescent

adjective
opal·​es·​cent ˌō-pə-ˈles-ᵊnt How to pronounce opalescent (audio)
: reflecting an iridescent light
saliva is a viscous opalescent fluid
opalescence noun
opalescently adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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