incandescent
/ˌɪn.kænˈdɛs.ənt/ adjective, noun
Forms incandescents
- adjective Emitting light as a result of being heated.
- adjective Shining very brightly.
- adjective (figurative) Showing intense emotion, as of a performance, etc. “The incandescent performance enraptured the audience.”
- adjective Extremely angry; furious. “She is incandescent with rage because someone stole her wallet.”
- noun An incandescent lamp or bulb.
Synonyms
Etymology
Borrowed from French incandescent, from Latin incandescens, from incandesco (“be heated, glow”), from in- (intensifying prefix) + candesco (“become white”), from candidus (“white”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective White, glowing, or luminous, with intense heat; as, incandescent carbon or platinum; hence, clear; shining; brilliant.
Etymology [L. incandecens, -entis, p. pr. of incandescere to become warm or hot; pref. in- in + candescere to become of a glittering whiteness, to become red hot, incho. fr. candere to be of a glittering whiteness: cf. F. incandescent. See Candle.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “incandescent”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details