radiance

[ rey-dee-uhns ]

noun

1. radiant brightness or light:

   the radiance of the tropical sun.

   Synonyms: brilliance, splendor, resplendence

2. warm, cheerful brightness:

   the radiance of her expression.

3. Rare. radiation.

radiance

/ ˈreɪdɪəns /

noun

1. the quality or state of being radiant
2. a measure of the amount of electromagnetic radiation leaving or arriving at a point on a surface. It is the radiant intensity in a given direction of a small element of surface area divided by the orthogonal projection of this area onto a plane at right angles to the direction Le

Other Words From

• non·radi·ance noun
• sub·radi·ance noun
• super·radi·ance noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of radiance¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; radi(ant) + -ance

Related Words

• warmth