spectrum
noun
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or spectrums
Definition of spectrum
1a : a continuum of color formed when a beam of white light is dispersed (as by passage through a prism) so that its component wavelengths are arranged in order
b : any of various continua that resemble a color spectrum in consisting of an ordered arrangement by a particular characteristic (such as frequency or energy): such as
(1) : electromagnetic spectrum
(2) : radio spectrum
(3) : the range of frequencies of sound waves
(4) : mass spectrum
c : the representation (such as a plot) of a spectrum
2a : a continuous sequence or range a wide spectrum of interests opposite ends of the political spectrum
b : kinds of organisms associated with a particular situation (such as an environment)
c : a range of effectiveness against pathogenic organisms an antibiotic with a broad spectrum
: exhibiting traits associated with autism spectrum disorder … quiet areas and sensory bags with headphones … and other ways to help kids who are on the spectrum cope with unfamiliar, noisy surroundings.— Rachel Molenda … Stephanie Adams, cofounder of the Autism and Asperger's Society, said: "We started the society because we wanted to make a place where people on the spectrum can spend their time and not feel isolated. …"— Kelsey Maxwell
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Examples of spectrum in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Their articles take you inside the halls of Congress, and cover the spectrum of policy issues being introduced, debated and voted on there. — Chad Pergram, Fox News, "Jim Jordan, facing accusations of ignoring sexual abuse, faces political crisis," 7 July 2018 Here’s why blues, reds and yellows tend to dominate light spectrum of the natural world. — Katherine J. Wu, Smithsonian, "Why Bioluminescence Evolved to Be Red Light, and Blue," 26 June 2018 And, the ideology of white supremacy that grew from being a slave nation still affects people across the spectrum of human colors. — Jerry Large, The Seattle Times, "Seattle collection of rare artifacts reveals America’s past and present, and how little we know," 18 June 2018 The spectrum of what’s morally acceptable is broadening, at the same time that the most common disposal methods are coming under scrutiny for their environmental impact. — Emily Atkin, WIRED, "The Powerful Groups Stonewalling a Greener Way to Die," 17 June 2018 The spectrum of what’s morally acceptable is broadening, at the same time that the most common disposal methods are coming under scrutiny for their environmental impact. — Emily Atkin, The New Republic, "The Fight for the Right to Be Cremated by Water," 14 June 2018 But Madrid says Villaraigosa's entire message has been about elevating issues that, across the spectrum of age and political ideology, are central to Latino communities, chief among them jobs and the economy. — Angela Hart, sacbee, "Antonio Villaraigosa hopes California Latinos dislike Donald Trump enough to vote," 1 June 2018 The overall spectrum of views on such matters is wide. — The Economist, "The legacy of Germany’s student protests in 1968," 31 May 2018 Typically, researchers can measure how quickly a star orbits by looking at the spectrum of light emitted by the hydrogen inside the star. — Avery Thompson, Popular Mechanics, "The Largest Neutron Star Ever, Found With a Clever New Technique," 30 May 2018These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'spectrum.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for spectrum
spectrum
noun
English Language Learners Definition of spectrum
: the group of colors that a ray of light can be separated into including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet : the colors that can be seen in a rainbow
: an entire range of light waves, radio waves, etc.
: a complete range of different opinions, people, etc.
See the full definition for spectrum in the English Language Learners Dictionary
spectrum
noun
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Kids Definition of spectrum
: the group of different colors including red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet seen when light passes through a prism and falls on a surface or when sunlight is affected by drops of water (as in a rainbow)
spectrum
noun
\
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or spectrums
Medical Definition of spectrum
1a : a continuum of color formed when a beam of white light is dispersed (as by passage through a prism) so that its component wavelengths are arranged in order
b : any of various continua that resemble a spectrum in consisting of an ordered arrangement by a particular characteristic (as frequency or energy): as
(1) : electromagnetic spectrum
(2) : mass spectrum
c : the representation (as a plot) of a spectrum
2 : a continuous sequence or range specifically : a range of effectiveness against pathogenic organisms — see broad-spectrum, narrow spectrum
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