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Transparent vs Ethereal - What's the difference?

transparent | ethereal | Related terms |

As adjectives the difference between transparent and ethereal

is that transparent is see-through, clear; having the property that light passes through it almost undisturbed, such that one can see through it clearly while ethereal is pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions.

transparent

English

(wikipedia transparent)

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • (of a material or object) See-through, clear; having the property that light passes through it almost undisturbed, such that one can see through it clearly.
    • The waters of the lake were transparent until the factory dumped wastes there.
  • * 1897, , chapter 19,
    • "You make the glass invisible by putting it into a liquid of nearly the same refractive index; a transparent thing becomes invisible if it is put in any medium of almost the same refractive index."
  • (of a system or organization) Open]], public; having the property that theories and practices are publicly visible, thereby [[reduce, reducing the chance of corruption.
  • Obvious; readily apparent; easy to see or understand.
    • His reasons for the decision were transparent .

    Usage notes

    * The term (translucent) is similar in meaning, but describes a material or object that diffuses light as it passes through. Looking through a transparent'' substance (such as a window), one can recognize objects on the other side. Looking through a ''translucent substance (such as frosted glass), one cannot see objects clearly, only light and shadow.

    Synonyms

    * see-through, diaphanous, clear, crystalline, limpid * (obvious) apparent, clear, obvious

    Antonyms

    * opaque * (obvious) obscure, opaque

    Derived terms

    * transparently * nontransparent

    Related terms

    * transparency * transparently * transparentness

    Coordinate terms

    * translucent

    ethereal

    English

    Alternative forms

    * aethereal * aetherial * * (obsolete) * * (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to the hypothetical upper, purer air, or to the higher regions beyond the earth or beyond the atmosphere; celestial; otherworldly; as, ethereal space; ethereal regions.
  • * 1667 : , Paradise Lost , book VII
    • Go, heavenly guest, ethereal messenger.
  • * 1862 : , Walking .
    • I trust that we shall be more imaginative, that our thoughts will be clearer, fresher, and more ethereal , as our sky,...
  • Consisting of ether; hence, exceedingly light or airy; tenuous; spiritlike; characterized by extreme delicacy, as form, manner, thought, etc.
  • * 1733 : , An Essay on Man
    • Vast chain of being, which from God began, Natures ethereal , human, angel, man.
  • Delicate, light and airy.

    • Derived terms

    * ethereality * ethereally * etherealness * etherealization * etherealisation * etherealizing

    References

    * American English forms