SCINTILLATION

scintillation

(noun) the twinkling of the stars caused when changes in the density of the earth’s atmosphere produce uneven refraction of starlight

glitter, glister, glisten, scintillation, sparkle

(noun) the quality of shining with a bright reflected light

scintillation

(noun) a brilliant display of wit

twinkle, scintillation, sparkling

(noun) a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash

scintillation

(noun) (physics) a flash of light that is produced in a phosphor when it absorbs a photon or ionizing particle

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Noun

scintillation (countable and uncountable, plural scintillations)

A flash of light; a spark.

(astronomy) The twinkling of a star or other celestial body caused by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere.

(nuclear physics) The flash of light produced by something (especially a phosphor) when it absorbs ionizing radiation.

Source: Wiktionary


Scin`til*la"tion, n. Etym: [L. scintillatio: cf. F. scintillation.]

1. The act of scintillating.

2. A spark of flash emitted in scintillating. These scintillations are . . . the inflammable effluences discharged from the bodies collided. Sir T. Browne.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

24 February 2025

ANOMALY

(noun) (astronomy) position of a planet as defined by its angular distance from its perihelion (as observed from the sun)


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Coffee Trivia

There are more than 50 countries that export coffee. They are near the equator, where the climate is conducive to producing coffee beans.

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