afterglow

[ af-ter-gloh, ahf- ]

noun

1. the glow frequently seen in the sky after sunset; afterlight.
2. a second or secondary glow, as in heated metal before it ceases to become incandescent.
3. the pleasant remembrance of a past experience, glory, etc.:

   She basked in the afterglow of her stage triumph.

4. phosphorescence ( def 3 ).

afterglow

/ ˈɑːftəˌɡləʊ /

noun

1. the glow left after a light has disappeared, such as that sometimes seen after sunset
2. the glow of an incandescent metal after the source of heat has been removed
3. physics luminescence persisting on the screen of a cathode-ray tube or in a gas-discharge tube after the power supply has been disconnected
4. a trace, impression, etc, of past emotion, brilliance, etc

Word History and Origins

Origin of afterglow¹

First recorded in 1870–75; after + glow

Example Sentences

Even if he refuses to bask in the afterglow of his big moment.

From Los Angeles Times

A year ago he was still in the summery afterglow of the Coronation, in which the Prince of Wales had played a central role, rather tenderly supporting his father the King.

From BBC

Its microwave detectors will make detailed maps of the big bang’s afterglow in the hopes of detecting evidence of gravitational waves thought to have been generated shortly after the universe’s birth.

From Science Magazine

As though to confirm Smithy’s point, another jar of gunpowder exploded in the air, and in the afterglow an arrow stitched through Samir’s felt hat and sent it skipping off his head.

From Literature

If this had been a short gamma-ray burst, caused by two colliding neutron stars, the collision would have created gravitational waves and have an afterglow in X-rays and visible light.

From Science Daily

Related Words

• bloom
• blossom
• brilliance
• glare
• gleam
• glimmer
• glitter
• intensity
• light
• radiance
• ray
• warmth