Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Synonyms

opalescence

American  
[oh-puh-les-uhns] / ˌoʊ pəˈlɛs əns /

noun

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

    This moonstone pendant has a lovely pearly opalescence.


Etymology

Origin of opalescence

opal + -escence

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

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

From New York Times • Apr. 5, 2024

Mering’s distinct alto has the opalescence of Karen Carpenter’s voice and the enveloping benevolence of Cass Elliot’s, though as a songwriter she shares a certain millennial poeticism with Lana Del Rey.

From New York Times • Nov. 17, 2022

His 1910 paper on "critical opalescence" explained, among other things, what?

From BBC • Mar. 9, 2011

If the Nixon Administration has acquired a reputation for somewhat gray formality, it appeared for this day to have taken on something like opalescence.

From Time Magazine Archive

But still more exquisitely beautiful than any of these is the fine opalescence that irradiates some butterflies in the changing beam.

From The Romance of Natural History, Second Series by Gosse, Philip Henry

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "opalescence" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com