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translucent substance

translucent substance

6.1
A material that lets light through but blurs things on the other side
  • noun
  • /trænˈsluːsənt ˈsʌbstəns/
translation icon : sustancia translúcida
  • Frosted glass is a common example of a translucent substance used in bathrooms for privacy.

Examples

  • The lamp was made of a translucent substance that softly diffused the light in the room.

  • Artists sometimes use a translucent substance to create glowing effects in their paintings.

  • The translucent substance allowed light to filter through.

  • She used a translucent substance for the window design.

  • Frosted glass is a common example of a translucent substance used in bathrooms for privacy.

  • The lamp was made of a translucent substance that softly diffused the light in the room.

  • Artists sometimes use a translucent substance to create glowing effects in their paintings.

Antonyms

1 4.7

An object that does not let light pass

How Transparent

translucent substance
6.1
opaque
1 4.7

Surface Forms

Morphology

translucent + substance

The meaning is directly and compositional: the adjective 'translucent' (lets light through but obscures clear view) simply modifies 'substance' (material), yielding a material that transmits but scatters light. This adjective+noun pattern is a regular, cross-linguistic construction, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will readily infer the phrase's meaning.

Etymology

Translucent substance comes from old words that mean 'through' and 'light', so translucent gives the picture of light passing through and substance means 'material'. That's why translucent substance means a material that lets light through but hides the shapes behind it.