continuous spectrum

American  

noun

Physics.

1. a spectrum apparently having all wavelengths over a comparatively wide range, usually characteristic of solids and other substances at high temperatures.

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continuous spectrum British  

noun

1. a spectrum that contains or appears to contain all wavelengths but not spectrum lines over a wide portion of its range. The emission spectrum of incandescent solids is continuous; bremsstrahlung spectra consisting of a large number of lines may appear continuous

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Etymology

Origin of continuous spectrum

First recorded in 1900–05

Compare meaning

How does continuous-spectrum compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• continuous spectrum vs. line spectrum

Example Sentences

Instead of a continuous spectrum like sunlight, which spreads smoothly across all colors, the Crab Pulsar produces distinct, separated bands.

From Science Daily • Mar. 28, 2026

A spectral line is a dark or bright line within a continuous spectrum.

From Science Daily • Feb. 29, 2024

In both instruments, each pixel is a continuous spectrum of colours which enables the researchers to produce the true colours of both planets.

From BBC • Jan. 5, 2024

When white light passes through a prism, it is dispersed and forms a continuous spectrum of all the colors.

From Textbooks • Oct. 13, 2016

As with the other Novæ, when it first dashed into the nebula it was vaporised and gave a continuous spectrum with dark lines of hydrogen and helium.

From History of Astronomy by Forbes, George