Word
spectral
Phoneticsspec·tral, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈspɛktɹəɫ/
UK/spˈɛktɹəl/
Definitions
01ghostly
C1 · Advanced Literary
adj. looking or sounding like a ghost; pale, thin, or not quite real.
adj. resembling or characteristic of a spectre; having a ghostly or ethereal quality. Often used in literary contexts to describe light or figures.
Español:espectral
“The old house was filled with a strange, spectral light that made everyone feel uneasy.”
“The survivor emerged from the ruins with a spectral appearance, his face pale and his eyes hollow from the ordeal.”
Teaching tip
This sense is almost exclusively found in fiction or descriptive writing; it is rarely used in everyday conversation.
Antonyms
02relating to light/energy
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. relating to the different colours or waves of light and energy.
adj. relating to a spectrum, particularly the distribution of energy or light across different wavelengths.
“Scientists used spectral analysis to find out what the distant star was made of.”
“The instrument measures the spectral signature of the gas, allowing researchers to identify specific chemical components with high precision.”
Usage
Usually appears before a noun in scientific phrases like 'spectral analysis' or 'spectral lines'.
Real-World Examples
“Swathes of the country were plunged into an eerie darkness as the spectral glow of the Sun's outer corona shimmered out from the edges of the shadowy Moon.” “She is haunted by Obsidia, a spectral child who comes to represent a version of herself.” Etymology
From spectre + -al.
From spectrum + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/spectral
Traducciones: Kaikki.org (Wiktionary), CC BY-SA 4.0