self-luminous
adjective
self-lu·mi·nous
ˌself-ˈlü-mə-nəs 
: generating and emitting its own visible light
… Venus … is not self-luminous but lit by the sun …—
Derek J. deSolla Price
Derek J. deSolla PriceRadium paint is actually self-luminous—when freshly applied, it requires no external energy source …—Jack Forster
Jack ForsterExamples of self-luminous in a Sentence
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The University of Science and Technology of China study, published earlier this month, demonstrated that the method could also be used to detect objects that, unlike stars, are not self-luminous—opening the door to potential applications here on Earth.
—Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
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Micah McCartney, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Self-luminous.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/self-luminous. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.
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