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to incandesce

to incandesce

9.0
To glow with bright light because it is very hot
  • verb
  • /ˌɪn.kænˈdɛs/
translation icon : incandescer
  • As the sunset progressed, the sky began to incandesce in brilliant shades of orange and red.

Examples

  • When she turned on the lamp, the bulb started to incandesce, filling the room with warm light.

  • Anthony saw that his mother's eyes were incandescing with silent anger.

    Fiction book (2001)
  • A narrow, arched passageway, gravid-shaped, wide enough for a small donkey; the soft light behind it incandescing not on the man but on the red flaps of his clothes, his dark patch of a head barely brushing the moss.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • The metal began to incandesce as it was heated in the furnace.

Synonyms

to burn
vsto incandesce
181 2.3

To produce light and heat from fire

focuses on becoming brightly hot from heat rather than intense visible shining
to glow
vsto incandesce
161 1.2

To shine with a steady soft light

is about becoming brightly hot rather than emitting a gentle steady light
to light up
vsto incandesce
64 2.5

Begin to shine or make something begin to shine, for example by burning

is limited to becoming very hot from heat rather than any caused brightening
to lowe
vsto incandesce
  • Archaic
9.9

To burn with a bright flame or glow

is the neutral modern term focusing on getting hot from heat rather than poetic use

Antonyms

256 1.0

To make or become less warm

23 4.4

Stop a fire, candle, or other light from burning

How Bright

to blaze
58 3.4
to incandesce
9.0
to shine
428 1.0
to glow
161 1.2
to glimmer
12 3.9

Surface Forms

incandesce infinitive
incandescing present participle
incandesces third person singular
incandesced past participle

Etymology

Incandesce comes from the Latin parts in- 'into' and candescere 'to glow', and it has the same root as candle. So, to incandesce is to 'glow' or become very hot and bright.