prismatic

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adjective pris·mat·ic \ priz-ˈma-tik \

Definition of prismatic

1 :relating to, resembling, or constituting a prism

2 a :formed by a prism

b :resembling the colors formed by refraction of light through a prism

prismatic effects

3 :highly colored :brilliant

prismatic lyrics

4 :having such symmetry that a general form with faces cutting all axes at unspecified intercepts is a prism

prismatic crystals

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prismatically

play \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

See prismatic defined for English-language learners

Examples of prismatic in a Sentence

with its prismatic plumage, the ruby-throated hummingbird is one of our garden's most prized visitors

Recent Examples of prismatic from the Web

One finds McCarthy, or prismatic parts of her, in characters everywhere.

— melissa h. pierson, The Christian Science Monitor, "'Mary McCarthy: The Complete Fiction' may startle you," 21 Aug. 2017
Sandra Spence’s prismatic costumes and Adam Mendelson’s sensitive lighting add other enticing layers throughout.

— tim smith, baltimoresun.com, "Annapolis Shakespeare Co. gives 'Alice' a brisk workout, some contemporary spin," 4 Aug. 2017
Clemmons’s collage offers a prismatic portrait of that search for authenticity.

— amy weiss-meyer, The Atlantic, "What We Lose: A Striking Novel About Filial Grief," 1 Aug. 2017
But some days at recess, my classmates pulled the corners of their eyes back so that their prismatic green or blue pupils disappeared behind taut slits of skin.

— Longreads, "My Mongolian Spot," 1 Aug. 2017
Prismatic tone colors sparkled throughout Summerfest’s second program with works from the early 20th century by Maurice Ravel, Carl Nielsen, Charles Tomlinson Griffes and Reynaldo Hahn.

— by libby hanssen, kansascity, "Summerfest impresses with brilliant colors, subtle hues of the 20th century.," 16 July 2017
And, as with that film, the main characters become Trojan horses, allowing for a prismatic look into the inner lives of women that may not always find representation on screen.

— rachel syme, New Republic, "GLOW Serves Up Liberation in Lycra," 30 June 2017
The songs, for all their pretty, prismatic intricacies, are remote and forlorn.

— jon pareles, New York Times, "Washed Out, a Pioneer of Chillwave, Considers an Escape on ‘Mister Mellow’," 28 June 2017
Meet rainbow armpit hair, which may just be the final word on prismatic beauty: As first reported by Allure, Ford's Instagram is full of ridiculously gorgeous dye jobs.

— lilian min, Cosmopolitan, "This Rainbow Armpit Hair Look Is Perfect for Pride," 21 June 2017

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

First Known Use of prismatic

1668

prismatic Synonyms

Synonyms

chromatic, colored, kaleidoscopic, motley, multicolored, multihued, polychromatic, polychrome, colorful, rainbow, varicolored, varied, variegated, various

Antonyms

colorless; monochromatic, monochromic, monotone, self-colored, solid

Related Words

iridescent, opalescent; brave, bright, brilliant, gay, vibrant; flashy, garish, gaudy, loud, showy, splashy; checkered, dotted, patterned, plaid, plaided, striped; dappled (also dapple), marbled, mottled, parti-color (or parti-colored), piebald, pied, pinto; flecked, specked, speckled, spotted; banded, barred, brindled (or brindle), streaked, striated; bichrome, bicolored (or bicolor), dichromatic, trichromatic, tricolor (or tricolored), two-tone, two-toned

Near Antonyms

achromatic; bleached, decolorized, faded, washed-out; dull, faint, gray (also grey), neutral, pale, pallid, unbrilliant

Other Physics Terms

amplitude, centrifugal, centripetal, convection, gradient, hysteresis, kinetic, lase, quantum

PRISMATIC Defined for English Language Learners

prismatic

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adjective

Definition of prismatic for English Language Learners

: using, containing, or shaped like a prism

Medical Dictionary

prismatic

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adjective pris·mat·ic \ priz-ˈmat-ik \

medical Definition of prismatic

1 :relating to, resembling, or constituting a prism

2 :formed by a prism

3 :having such symmetry that a general form with faces cutting all axes at unspecified intercepts is a prism

prismatic crystals

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prismatic

Definition of prismatic

prismatically

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Examples of prismatic in a Sentence

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First Known Use of prismatic

prismatic Synonyms

Synonyms

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Other Physics Terms

PRISMATIC Defined for English Language Learners

prismatic

Definition of prismatic for English Language Learners

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prismatic

medical Definition of prismatic

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