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Glite Dictionary
💡 Light through tissue 🖼️ Light through object
transillumination

transillumination

1 9.3
Shining light through an object to show its inside or make it glow
  • noun
  • /ˌtrænzɪluˈmɪneɪʃən/
  • Specialized
: transiluminación
  • The technician demonstrated transillumination to reveal the internal structures of the sample.

Examples

  • THE TRANSILLUMINATION KIT IS AN EARLY ATTEMPT TO VIEW THE INSIDE OF THE BODY WITHOUT ACTUALLY PERFORMING SURGERY, WHICH WAS MUCH MORE DANGEROUS AT THE TURN OF THE LAST CENTURY.

    Christmas Slasher (2023)

  • The dentist used transillumination to check for cavities in the patient's teeth.

  • During the surgery, the doctor applied transillumination to locate the veins more easily.

How Revealing

to CT scan
  • Specialized
1 3.7
radiography
  • Specialized
1 5.8
transillumination
  • Specialized
1 9.3
backlighting
  • Specialized
2 5.6

Surface Forms

transillumination singular
transilluminations plural

Morphology

transillumination = illumination (transparent) = trans + illumination

Formed from 'trans-' (through) + 'illumination' (lighting); the meaning 'shining light through an object' is a direct compositional extension.

Etymology

Transillumination comes from the parts trans- ('across') and illumination ('to light up'), similar to transparent or illuminate. It means shining light through an object to show its hidden patterns or to make it glow.