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Glite Dictionary
✨ Partly shiny ✨ A low-gloss finish
semimatte

semimatte

5.2
Having a surface that is partly matte and partly shiny
  • adjective
  • /ˈsɛmɪˌmæt/
translation icon : semimate
  • The photographer preferred a semimatte paper for printing portraits because it reduced glare.

Examples

  • The new smartphone comes with a semimatte back that resists fingerprints.

  • The walls were painted in a semimatte finish.

  • Her lipstick had a semimatte finish, giving her lips a soft, natural look.

  • This semimatte texture is perfect for modern interiors.

  • The artist preferred a semimatte finish for the sculpture to balance light and shadow.

  • She chose a semimatte lipstick that provided a subtle shine without being too glossy.

  • The walls were painted in a semimatte color to avoid glare while adding depth to the room.

How Glossy

glossy
34 2.6
satin
3 2.7
semimatte
5.2
matte
  • US
14 5.3

Surface Forms

semimatte positive
semimatter comparative
semimattest superlative

Morphology

semimatte = matte (transparent) = semi + matte

The meaning is directly compositional: 'semi-' means partly and 'matte' means non-glossy, so the whole word means partly matte.

Etymology

Semimatte combines the prefix semi- 'half' (the same 'semi' you see in semifinal) and matte 'not shiny', so it describes something that is partly dull and partly shiny. That's why a semimatte surface has only a low level of shine and reduces glare.