Word
translucent
Phoneticstranslu·cent
US/tɹænˈsɫusənt/
UK/tɹænslˈuːsənt/
Definition
adj. allowing some light to pass through but not enough to see clear images. You can see light through it, but you cannot see exactly what is on the other side.
adj. permitting the passage of light but diffusing it so that objects on the opposite side are not clearly visible. Often used to describe materials like frosted glass, paper, or skin.
Examples
“The bathroom window is made of translucent glass.”
“The chef sliced the fish so thin that it became almost translucent on the plate.”
“The architect chose translucent panels for the exterior walls to allow natural light to permeate the building while maintaining the privacy of the residents within.”
Examples
simple
“The bathroom window is made of translucent glass.”
contextual
“The chef sliced the fish so thin that it became almost translucent on the plate.”
complex
“The architect chose translucent panels for the exterior walls to allow natural light to permeate the building while maintaining the privacy of the residents within.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun or predicatively after a linking verb like 'be' or 'become'.
Pitfall
The window is transparent so I can't see through it.
The window is translucent so I can't see through it.
Learners often confuse 'translucent' with 'transparent'; transparent means you can see through it clearly, while translucent means light passes through but images are blurred.
Real-World Examples
“Models came to his Potrero Hill studio and lay on fragile sheets of translucent paper while Ed traced their outlines.” “Taking place around a translucent barrel of water, with the audience snuggling down on beanbags, Float is hypnotic and dreamlike.” Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *terh₂-der. Proto-Italic *trānts Latin trāns Latin trāns- Proto-Indo-European *lewk- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *-éyeti Proto-Indo-European *lowkéyeti Proto-Italic *loukeō Proto-Indo-European *lewk-der. Proto-Italic *loukēō Latin lūceō Latin trānslūceō Latin trānslūcēnsbor. English translucent From Latin trānslūcentem, accusative of trānslūcēns, present participle of trānslūcēre.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/translucent