pellucid

[ puh-loo-sid ]

adjective

1. allowing the maximum passage of light, as glass; translucent

   Antonyms: opaque

2. clear; limpid:

   pellucid waters.

   Synonyms: transparent

   Antonyms: opaque

3. clear in meaning, expression, or style:

   a pellucid way of writing.

   Antonyms: obscure

pellucid

/ pɛˈluːsɪd /

adjective

1. transparent or translucent
2. extremely clear in style and meaning; limpid

Derived Forms

• ˌpelluˈcidity, noun
• pelˈlucidly, adverb

Other Words From

• pel·lu·cid·i·ty [pel-, oo, -, sid, -i-tee], pel·lucid·ness noun
• pel·lucid·ly adverb
• subpel·lucid adjective
• subpel·lucid·ly adverb
• subpel·lucid·ness noun
• subpel·lu·cidi·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of pellucid¹

First recorded in 1610–20; from Latin pellūcidus, variant of perlūcidus “transparent, radiant”; per-, lucid

Word History and Origins

Origin of pellucid¹

C17: from Latin pellūcidus, variant of perlūcidus, from perlūcēre to shine through, from per through + lūcēre to shine

Example Sentences

A sea foam green salmon, its pellucid glass skin reflecting the light, swims upstream across the white wall.

From Seattle Times

This makes Meghan O’Rourke’s pellucid “The Invisible Kingdom” — a profound, sometimes lyrical, deeply moving portrayal of a vague constellation of illnesses — all the more remarkable.

From New York Times

A reviewer in The Guardian called it “an eloquent, pellucid, sometimes poignant study of five female intellectuals, each of whom disdained convention to fulfill their potential as thinkers and writers.”

From Seattle Times

In addition to sunbathing, swimming or picnicking, you’ll find year-round snorkeling and scuba diving throughout the warm and pellucid waters, along with ample opportunities to camp, hike, bike, ride horses and hunt.

From New York Times

Developing the lo-fi blues of his early work and pre-empting Sea Change’s pellucid studies of a wrecked relationship, Beck’s wallowing is given an almost mystical edge by Indian drones and sitar tolling underneath it.

From The Guardian