thermoluminescent
- adjective
- /ˌθɜrməˌluːməˈnɛsənt/
- Specialized
- In the lab, the thermoluminescent crystals illuminated after being heated, showing their unique properties.
Examples
-
The artist used a thermoluminescent paint that glowed brightly when exposed to heat from the light bulb.
-
These often use thermoluminescent materials to detect photons, and etched-track devices made of plastics to detect neutrons.
Academic text (2004) -
The range of dates that the thermoluminescent examinations can provide is so wide that it leaves unresolved the problem of accurate dating.
Academic text (2000) -
These often use thermoluminescent materials to detect photons, and etched-track devices made of plastics to detect neutrons.
Antonyms
- Specialized
6
7.0
A thing that gives off light without heat, like fireflies or jellyfish
Surface Forms
Morphology
thermoluminescent = luminescent (semi-transparent) = thermo + lumin + escent
The meaning is largely compositional from 'thermo-' plus 'luminescent', but the term is technical and only partly inferable for an average learner.
Etymology
The word thermoluminescent combines thermo- meaning 'heat' and luminescent meaning 'giving light', just like in thermometer and luminous. So a thermoluminescent material gives off light when it is warmed, which is why scientists use it to show how much radiation something has been exposed to.