Opacity vs Translucent - What's the difference?
opacity | translucent |
(uncountable) The state or quality of being opaque, not allowing light to pass through
(uncountable) The state or quality of being inaccessible to understanding
(optics, countable) A measure of relative impenetrability to electromagnetic radiation such as light.
Allowing light to pass through, but diffusing it.
* 1913 , , The Day of Days , ch. 1:
* 1921 , , Jill the Reckless , ch. 21:
Clear, lucid, or transparent.
* 1884 , Henry J. Ramsdell, Life and Public Services of Hon. James G. Blaine , Hubbard,
* 1904 , , The Club of Queer Trades , ch. 4:
* 1919 , , The Lords of the Wild , ch. 3:
As a noun opacity
is (uncountable) the state or quality of being opaque, not allowing light to pass through.As an adjective translucent is
allowing light to pass through, but diffusing it.opacity
English
Noun
- We could not see the sandbar due to the opacity of the muddy water.
- The opacity of these decisions is troubling.
- The opacity of a clean glass window is near zero.
Synonyms
* opaquenessCoordinate terms
* transparencytranslucent
English
(wikipedia translucent)Adjective
(en adjective)- The window-panes, encrusted with perennial deposits of Atmosphere, were less transparent than translucent .
- On the windows of the nearer buildings the sun cast glittering beams, but further away a faint, translucent mist hid the city.
pp. 105-106:
- Mr. Blaine's powers and disposition shone resplendent. . . . the gavel in his practised hand, chiming in with varied tones that aptly enforced his words, from the sharp rat-tat-tat that recalled the House to decorum, to the vigorous thunder that actually drowned unparliamentary speech; rulings, repartee, translucent explanation flashing from his lips as quick as lighting.
- "I was startled at your not seeing it from the beginning. The man is a translucent liar and knave."
- [T]he sun was in its greatest splendor, and the air was absolutely translucent . The lake and the mountains sprang out, sharp and clear.