lumen-, lumin-, lum-

The process by which an element of light passes through body tissue so that an expert standing on the other side of the source can diagnose or study body organs or obstructions, etc.: Mr. Sanderson said that he wanted to consult with the radiologist about the transillumination which had been completed, so he could determine if there were any unusual growths in his abdomen.

An individual trained to "read" and to understand what was revealed when a strong beam was projected through body tissue: In addition to consulting with a regular X-ray technician, Mrs. Armstrong insisted on meeting with the transilluminator, who also worked at the hospital, in an effect to get a second opinion regarding the masses that were revealed in her lungs.

1. Permitting sunshine, for example, to pass through but diffusing it so that people, objects, etc., on the opposite side are not clearly visible: The translucence of the frosted window glass in the door was not transparent.

The translucence of the frosted window in the front door prevented the woman from seeing who was ringing the doorbell.

2. Easily understandable; lucid: Marjory gave her friends an explanation of great translucence that was very easy to understand.
3. Clear; transparent: The biologists could see that the translucence of the seawater was decreased by the storm.
4. The action or fact of shining through, mentally or physically: Siebert had a moment of translucence when all the facts of the criminal case were provided and he knew he could solve the mystery.

Materials that allow shining elements to pass through them in a diffuse or in unclear results: Although translucency usually refers to visible brilliancy in common usage, it can actually refer to any type of radiation; for example, bodily flesh is transparent to X-rays, while the translucency of bones is not.

Although transparency usually refers to visible light in well-known phrases, it can also refer to anything that can be easily seen; for example, there is translucency of soft tissue with X-rays, while there are no translucencies with the humerus, collarbone, breastbone, etc.

Ted's new door had several glass panes; including, three that were translucencies which allowed brightness to filter through, but they didn't provide a clear view of what was outside.

Letting bright elements pass through but diffusing them so that objects on the other side cannot be clearly distinguished: The door of the shower was made of translucent glass, letting shining images transmit through it, but not allowing clearly visible forms to be seen of who might be taking a shower!

Frosted glass is an example of another translucent product.

Descriptive of effulgence being transmitted but causing sufficient diffusion to prevent the clear perception or viewing of images: The window was frosted and so it translucently presented a distortion of anything, or anyone, on the outside.

1. Sparkling or shining results that are produced by friction; usually, within a crystalline substance: Microtechnology is able to detect the triboluminescence that is emitted when crystals, or sugar, are crushed, producing sparks of radiance.
2. The luster or emission of brightness that results from perfrication, scratching or mechanical pressure: Timmy and Sally were excited when they watched the bright flashes, or triboluminescences, that were visible when a piece of wool was rubbed on their cat's fur.

Referring to the glittering or flickering results that take place when rasping, scraping or mechanical pressure is applied: As a science experiment, Jane and the other students compared the results of crushing glass, rhinestones, and common quartz to determine which triboluminescent element was the brightest.

Shining results that take place when something is exposed to a high temperature that is produced in a material as a result of rubbing: When specific crystals are ground, they generate heat and so there appears to be a detectable tribothermoluminescence which can be measured by special instruments that are sensitive to detections of glittering sparks.

A reference to brightly candent elements coming from exposure to high temperatures that are produced in a material as a result of grinding, filing, fretting, etc.: The research assistants, Mr. Anderson and Mrs. Smith, were interested in determining the tribothermoluminescent differences between various crystals when they were ground up and produced heat and detectable light.

1. Relating to something which is shadowed or dark: The taxi drove up to the unilluminated house where Jack, the driver, waited until Mrs. Jones had gone inside and turned on the chandelier before he drove away.
2. Not mentally enlightened: It was thought that Henry was unilluminated because he wouldn't take advantage of the information that was available about his profession at the library.