ultraviolet

[ uhl-truh-vahy-uh-lit ]

adjective

1. beyond the violet in the spectrum, corresponding to light having wavelengths shorter than 4000 angstrom units.
2. pertaining to, producing, or utilizing light having such wavelengths:

   an ultraviolet lamp.

noun

1. ultraviolet radiation.

ultraviolet

/ ˌʌltrəˈvaɪəlɪt /

noun

1. the part of the electromagnetic spectrum with wavelengths shorter than light but longer than X-rays; in the range 0.4 × 10 ^–6and 1 × 10 ^–8metres

adjective

1. of, relating to, or consisting of radiation lying in the ultraviolet UV

   ultraviolet radiation

ultraviolet

/ ŭl′trə-vī′ə-lĭt /

Adjective

1. Relating to electromagnetic radiation having frequencies higher than those of visible light but lower than those of x-rays, approximately 10 ¹⁵–10 ¹⁶ hertz. Some animals, such as bees, are capable of seeing ultraviolet radiation invisible to the human eye.
2. See more at electromagnetic spectrum

Noun

1. Ultraviolet light or the ultraviolet part of the spectrum.
2. See Note at infrared

Word History and Origins

Origin of ultraviolet¹

First recorded in 1870–75; ultra- + violet

Example Sentences

We should be hunting for signals in the ultraviolet, X-ray and gamma-ray frequencies.

From Science News

Another key feature that will keep your humidifier cleaner longer is the use of ultraviolet light to mitigate the formation of mold and bacteria.

From Popular-Science

Putting surfaces that reflect ultraviolet light on glass can help daytime fliers spot windows before they fly into them.

From Science News For Students

It soaks up x-rays and ultraviolet energy from the sun, protecting those of us on the ground from these harmful rays.

From Science News For Students

If Juno saw a lightning strike at the same place as one of these ultraviolet flashes, “that would prove it,” she says.

From Science News For Students

This ultraviolet camera shows people what the sun is really doing to their skin.

From The Daily Beast

All of these instruments orbit Earth, beyond the atmosphere that blocks X-rays and most ultraviolet light.

From The Daily Beast

One important note: only certain mushrooms provide this benefit, thanks to being grown under ultraviolet light.

From The Daily Beast

PhoneSoap disinfects your cell phone for $50 bucks with ultraviolet light in less than four minutes.

From The Daily Beast

If this sounds a little strange, just think about the health implications of sitting under ultraviolet light for hours at a time.

From The Daily Beast

On a hunch I dropped in an aluminum alkyl, and then pushed the polymerization along with both ultraviolet and heat.

From Project Gutenberg

The difficulty is a real one since the ultraviolet rays have a destructive effect even in the absence of oxygen.

From Project Gutenberg

In the "X" circuit, the negative was grounded along an ultraviolet beam from the ship's repeller-ray generator.

From Project Gutenberg

The apparatus is not one for producing violet or ultraviolet rays in the scientific meaning of those words.

From Project Gutenberg

We utilize a carbon arc lamp, which has considerable ultraviolet light in it.

From Project Gutenberg