translucent

adjective

trans·lu·cent | \ tran(t)s-ˈlü-sᵊnt

, tranz-\

Definition of translucent

1 : permitting the passage of light:

a : transmitting and diffusing light so that objects beyond cannot be seen clearly

b : clear, transparent translucent water

2 : free from disguise or falseness his translucent patriotism — Newsweek

Other Words from translucent Choose the Right Synonym Did You Know? More Example Sentences Learn More about translucent

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Choose the Right Synonym for translucent

clear, transparent, translucent, limpid mean capable of being seen through. clear implies absence of cloudiness, haziness, or muddiness. clear water transparent implies being so clear that objects can be seen distinctly. a transparent sheet of film translucent implies the passage of light but not a clear view of what lies beyond. translucent frosted glass limpid suggests the soft clearness of pure water. her eyes were limpid pools of blue

Did You Know?

Look closely and you will see the same three letters in "translucent" and "elucidate," letting the family relationship between the two words shine through. Both terms descend from the Latin word lucēre, meaning "to shine." ("Translucent" is from "lucēre" plus "trans-," which means "through.") When you "elucidate" something, you make it clear by explaining it in a way that can be easily understood - you "shed light on" it. "Lucēre" is also the root of another bright and shining English word, "lucid," which can mean either "bright with light" or "clear and easy to understand."

Examples of translucent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Executed on translucent silk that reveals the underlying structure of the stretcher bars, the painting itself feels like an apparition. — Sharon Mizota, latimes.com, "Art as a portal to Korean ancestors? The mesmerizing work of Hanna Hur," 1 July 2019 Drag your finger along your iPhone’s virtual keyboard, leaving a wisp of a translucent tail in your wake, and form words without furiously finger-pecking at the keys. — Lauren Goode, WIRED, "An iOS 13 Preview: The 7 Top Features Coming to Your iPhone," 25 June 2019 His dress-over-pants look comes in a lightweight, translucent fabric that feels right for the season. — Vogue, "Zendaya Puts a Summer Spin on the Dress Over Pants Look," 24 June 2019 Henry Le, the owner, originally opened the restaurant in 1997, specializing in pho and banh cuon, but everyone leaned over platters of the kitchen’s long, translucent noodles. — Tejal Rao, New York Times, "The Art of Banh Cuon, Vietnamese Rice Rolls," 20 June 2019 For his debut collection for the house, Lagerfeld injected a dose of raciness, sending out a translucent navy chiffon number that prompted scandalized headlines. — Thomas Adamson And Samuel Petrequin, chicagotribune.com, "Fashion icon Karl Lagerfeld of Chanel dies in Paris," 19 Feb. 2019 More extreme than Gehry’s industrial-chic Facebook headquarters or Foster’s flying saucer for Apple, the complex was to be utterly utopian, a giant translucent canopy under which a kind of Google city would bloom. — Kyle Chayka, The New Republic, "From architect to tastemaker, Bjarke Ingels is designing the future.," 2 May 2018 Sivan, looking as translucent as a glass figurine, was behind them, in a sharp white suit. — Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, "Troye Sivan’s Coming of Age," 17 June 2019 Providing a snapshot of the 4-year-old brand’s technical sophistication, the looks included textured yet translucent knitwear, which from the front row looked soft as a sponge. — Washington Post, "Sunnei to Palm Angels, streetwear in fashion focus in Milan," 16 June 2019

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