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Glite Dictionary
lithophane

lithophane

1 9.9
A thin panel that shows a picture when light shines through it
  • noun
  • /ˈlɪθəˌfeɪn/
: litofano
  • The artist showcased a stunning lithophane that depicted a beautiful landscape when illuminated.

Examples

  • At the gallery, the lithophane created a mesmerizing effect, revealing a hidden image as the light passed through it.

  • She admired the intricate details of the lithophane, which came to life with the light shining through.

  • I still make a lot of lithophanes with CNC that I can't make by hand carving.

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Surface Forms

lithophane singular
lithophanes plural

Morphology

lithophane = litho (opaque) = litho + phane

The word is formed from specialized combining forms ('litho-' and '-phane') that are not productive standalone morphemes for most learners, so its meaning is not transparently recoverable from the components.

Etymology

Lithophane comes from Greek parts litho- 'stone' and -phane 'to show'. These thin panels reveal a picture when light shines through them, so the name is like 'a stone that shows'.