opalescence

[ oh-puh-les-uhns ]

noun

1. a lustrous play of colors like that of an opal:

   This moonstone pendant has a lovely pearly opalescence.

Word History and Origins

Origin of opalescence¹

opal + -escence

Example Sentences

Here, he is joined by the harpist Brandee Younger, who adds some lunar opalescence to his sound.

From New York Times

In dusky colors often shot through with opalescence, they picture ordinary objects on flat surfaces — a shoe, a bowl, a paper bag — as if they were sacred relics.

From New York Times

Across the violet surface of the Mediterranean and the crystal opalescence of the evening sky the music fell voluptuously.

From Project Gutenberg

Color tends to a muted opalescence, but in “Moving,” in which she appears three times at about life size, dancing across a five-foot-wide canvas, an intense yellow glow suffuses and heats the image.

From New York Times

This term, derived from fluor-spar after the analogy of opalescence from opal, does not presuppose any theory.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• brightness
• brilliance
• glitter
• glow
• sheen
• shimmer
• sparkle