neon
/ˈniˌɑn/ noun, adjective
Forms neons
- noun (chemistry, uncountable) The chemical element (symbol Ne) with an atomic number of 10. The second of the noble gases, it is a colourless, odorless inert gas.
- noun (countable) A form or sample of the element.
- noun (countable, uncountable) Neon signs or lights, collectively.
- noun (countable) A neon tetra fish.
- noun (attributively, before color names) Describes bright and vibrant colors having a fluorescent look.
- adjective (of a color) That resembles a neon light; extremely bright; fluorescent
Synonyms
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Ancient Greek νέον (néon), neuter of νέος (néos, “new”), from earlier *νέϝος (*néwos), from Proto-Hellenic *newos, from Proto-Indo-European *néwos. By surface analysis, neo- + -on (suffix used in all noble gases).
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 — from the Wiktionary entry “neon”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details