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Glite Dictionary
to opalesce

to opalesce

9.9
To show changing shiny colors like an opal
  • verb
  • /oʊˈpælɛs/
: opalescer
  • The surface of the lake seemed to opalesce at dawn, glimmering with shifting hues.

Examples

  • Certain minerals opalesce when exposed to ultraviolet light, showing remarkable colors.

  • As the sunlight streamed through the glass, it began to opalesce beautifully.

  • The water opaleced beautifully in the sunlight.

  • The artist wanted to opalesce the canvas with vibrant colors.

  • As the sunlight streamed through the glass, it began to opalesce beautifully.

  • The surface of the lake seemed to opalesce at dawn, glimmering with shifting hues.

  • Certain minerals opalesce when exposed to ultraviolet light, showing remarkable colors.

Synonyms

to iridesce
vsto opalesce
1 9.9

To show bright rainbow colors that change when seen from different angles

shows a softer milky shimmer rather than bright changing rainbow flashes
to opalize
vsto opalesce
  • US
9.9

To give glass or stone a milky shine with rainbow colors

describes showing that same shimmer rather than causing or becoming it

Antonyms

dull
30 1.0

Not bright or shiny with weak colour

How Iridescent

to iridesce
1 9.9
to opalesce
9.9
to shimmer
59 4.3
to gleam
31 1.9
to glint
17 3.9

Surface Forms

opalesce infinitive
opaleced past
opaleced past participle
opalecing present participle
opaleces third person singular

Morphology

opalesce = opal (transparent) = opal + esce

Formed from the noun 'opal' plus the verb-forming suffix '-esce' meaning 'become/show', so the meaning is directly derived.

Etymology

The word opalesce comes from the gem opal and the ending -esce meaning 'become', so it means 'become like an opal'. That's why to opalesce is to show soft, changing, rainbow-like colors or a shimmering light.