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irradiation

irradiation

8.6
A bright object that appears larger when seen against a dark background
  • noun
  • /ɪˌreɪdiˈeɪʃən/
  • Specialized
translation icon : irradiación
  • The photographer captured the irradiation of light that made the sun look bigger rising over the mountains.

Examples

  • While gazing at the stars, I noticed the irradiation of the moon made it appear larger against the night sky.

  • The main problems worldwide were the black-drop effect and the irradiation of light.

    Academic text (2004)
  • The artist used a dark background to enhance the irradiation effect of the bright colors in her painting.

How Pronounced

dazzle
11 5.6
irradiation
  • Specialized
8.6
to halo
2 5.5
glow
119 1.0

Surface Forms

irradiation singular
irradiations plural

Morphology

irradiation = irradiate (semi-transparent) = ir + radiate + ion

The morphological formation is regular, but the specific perceptual meaning ('apparent enlargement' or halo effect) is a specialized extension of 'illumination' that is not immediately inferable to all learners.

Etymology

Irradiation comes from the root radi- meaning 'ray', the same root in radiant and radiate. That's why irradiation fits the visual effect where bright light seems to spread out and make an object look larger.