translucent

C2+ Topic:Describing Qualities

US /trænsˈluːsənt/ UK /trænzˈluːsənt/ See IPA manual

Meanings

1

adj
allowing light to pass through diffusely but not fully transparent

The translucent curtains softened the morning light into a warm glow.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · allowing light to pass... semitransparentdiaphanous pellucid sheer clear

Opposites

opaque transparent

Word family

Forms translucenciestranslucency

Derived forms translucentlytranslucencetranslucency

Related forms lucentlucidtranslucid

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

translucent amber
fossil resin that allows light through without making objects behind it fully clear

Adjective + noun

Simplified etymology

Translucent was formed from Latin trans, “across,” and lucere, “to shine.” It originally meant “shining through” or “transparent”; the modern sense “allowing light to pass through” dates from the early 18th century.

Etymology

From Latin trānslūcēns ('shining through'), present participle of trānslūcēre ('to shine through'), from trāns ('through') + lūcēre ('to shine').

trānslūcēre Latin trāns Latin lūcēre Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Describing Qualities Word Formation & Derivatives

External links

# translucent

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2+
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /trænsˈluːsənt/
**IPA (UK):** /trænzˈluːsənt/

## Meanings
1. allowing light to pass through diffusely but not fully transparent

## Examples
- The translucent curtains softened the morning light into a warm glow.

## Synonyms
- semitransparent
- diaphanous
- pellucid
- sheer
- clear

## Antonyms
- opaque
- transparent

## Derived Forms
- translucently
- translucence
- translucency

## Related Forms
- lucent
- lucid
- translucid

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: trānslūcēre
- Root: trāns
- Root: lūcēre

## Etymology
From Latin trānslūcēns ('shining through'), present participle of trānslūcēre ('to shine through'), from trāns ('through') + lūcēre ('to shine').

## AI Etymology
Translucent is from Latin trānslūcēns ('shining through'), present participle of trānslūcēre ('to shine through'), from trāns ('through') + lūcēre ('to shine'). Important recorded forms include trānslūcēre (Latin), trāns (Latin), and lūcēre (Latin). Morphologically, the trans- element contributes the sense of across, through, beyond, or change from one state into another. The modern sense is largely compositional, with the historical elements narrowing into a stable English lexical item. In current use it covers allowing light to pass through diffusely but not fully transparent. The wider family includes derived forms such as translucently, translucence, and translucency and related words such as lucent, lucid, and translucid.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Word Formation & Derivatives

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