Opalescence vs Opaque - What's the difference?
opalescence | opaque |
the state of being opalescent
(physics) the milky iridescent appearance of a dense transparent medium when it is illuminated by polychromatic visible radiation (such as sunlight) due to local fluctuations in its density and therefore in its refractive index
Neither reflecting nor emitting light.
Allowing little light to pass through, not translucent or transparent.
(figuratively) Unclear, unintelligible, hard to get or explain the meaning of
(figuratively) Obtuse, stupid.
(computing) Describes a type for which higher-level callers have no knowledge of data values or their representations; all operations are carried out by the type's defined abstract operators.
(obsolete, poetic) An area of darkness; a place or region with no light.
* 1745 , Edward Young, Night-Thoughts , I:
Something which is opaque rather than translucent.
To make, render (more) opaque.
As nouns the difference between opalescence and opaque
is that opalescence is the state of being opalescent while opaque is an area of darkness; a place or region with no light.As an adjective opaque is
neither reflecting nor emitting light.As a verb opaque is
to make, render (more) opaque.opalescence
English
Noun
References
*opaque
English
(wikipedia opaque)Alternative forms
* opakeAdjective
(en adjective)Antonyms
* (physically) see-through, translucent, transparent * (figuratively) clear, obvious, bright, brilliantUsage notes
* The comparative opaquer and superlative opaquest, though formed following valid rules for English, are much less common than more opaque' and ' most opaque and seem to occur more frequently in poetry.Derived terms
* opaquely * opaqueness * radiopaqueNoun
(en noun)- Through this opaque of Nature and of Soul, / This double night, transmit one pitying ray, / To lighten, and to cheer.