opalescences
Pearly light plays
Opalescences is the plural of opalescence, the quality of displaying a shifting play of colors like an opal gemstone.
The effect occurs when light scatters through translucent or milky substances, producing iridescent flashes of color that change with the viewing angle.
The term applies both to natural phenomena—soap bubbles, certain minerals, some types of glass—and to manufactured materials designed to mimic this shimmering quality.
Tremulous, wavering light
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- play-of-colorInternal spectral shifting
- refractionWave bending between media
- prismaticLight-dispersing, multicolored
pearlescence · sheen · luster · glimmer · translucence · milkiness · nacre · moonstone
Nacreous marine gastropod
- mother-of-pearlIridescent inner shell coating
- fish-scalesThin overlapping skin plates
- seashellsEmpty mollusk exoskeletons
- jellyfishDrifting marine stinger
dewdrops · bioluminescence · cuttlefish · nautilus · foam
Delicate beyond earthly measure
- dreamyVague and pleasantly distracted
- mysticalOf hidden spiritual significance
- otherworldlySeemingly not earthly
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
ephemeral · gossamer · diaphanous · enchanting · subtle · elusive · fleeting · romantic
shimmer
Tremulous, wavering light
- luminosityIntrinsic brightness of source
- play-of-colorInternal spectral shifting
- refractionWave bending between media
prismatic · pearlescence · sheen · luster · glimmer · translucence · milkiness · nacre · moonstone · fire
abalone
Nacreous marine gastropod
- mother-of-pearlIridescent inner shell coating
- fish-scalesThin overlapping skin plates
- seashellsEmpty mollusk exoskeletons
jellyfish · dewdrops · bioluminescence · cuttlefish · nautilus · foam
ethereal
Delicate beyond earthly measure
- dreamyVague and pleasantly distracted
- mysticalOf hidden spiritual significance
- otherworldlySeemingly not earthly
delicate · ephemeral · gossamer · diaphanous · enchanting · subtle · elusive · fleeting · romantic · magical
opals
Iridescent precious stones
- cabochonsPolished, unfaceted gemstones
- matrixOrdered numerical arrangement
- silicaSilicon dioxide compound
hydration · inclusions · doublets · triplets · lapidary · polishing · specimens · mineralogy
opalescencesopacity
Impermeability to light
matteness · dullness · flatness · opacity · colorlessness
opalescencesplainness
Unadorned, straightforward quality
drabness · dullnesses · lustrelessness · blandness · monotony