opalescent
Showing rainbow sheen
Opalescent describes something that shimmers with a milky, shifting play of colors—like an opal.
The effect suggests pale iridescence, with soft rainbow hues that change depending on the angle of light: opalescent soap bubbles, the opalescent sheen of abalone shell.
The word implies delicacy and luminosity rather than bold color.
Resembling pearl's iridescence
- mother-of-pearlIridescent inner shell coating
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
- shimmeringGleaming with wavering light
- rainbowRefracted light arc
prismatic · holographic · kaleidoscopic · aurora · spectrum · refraction · diffraction · play-of-color
Tremulous, wavering light
- gleamFaint reflected light
- glowSteady, soft light
- glimmerFaint, wavering light
- sparkleEmit flashing light
sheen · luster · radiance · glint · twinkle · scintillation · luminescence · phosphorescence
Iridescent feldspar gemstone
- pearlMollusk-formed gemstone
- labradoriteIridescent feldspar mineral
- alexandriteColor-changing precious stone
- cabochonDomed, unfaceted gemstone
Whitish and cloudy
- cloudedMade unclear or dim
- hazyUnclear, indistinct
- frostedCovered with icy film
- semi-transparentPartially permitting light passage
diaphanous · filmy · veiled · gauzy · pellucid · misty · diffused · smoky
Seemingly not earthly
- mysticalOf hidden spiritual significance
- celestialOf the sky above
- dreamlikeHazy and fantastical
- fantasticalExtravagantly unreal or imaginary
enchanted · magical · supernatural · spectral · ghostly · ephemeral · transcendent · sublime
nacreous
Resembling pearl's iridescence
- mother-of-pearlIridescent inner shell coating
- lustrousSoftly bright, reflective
- shimmeringGleaming with wavering light
rainbow · prismatic · holographic · kaleidoscopic · aurora · spectrum · refraction · diffraction · play-of-color · fire
shimmer
Tremulous, wavering light
sparkle · sheen · luster · radiance · glint · twinkle · scintillation · luminescence · phosphorescence · effulgence
moonstone
Iridescent feldspar gemstone
- pearlMollusk-formed gemstone
- labradoriteIridescent feldspar mineral
- alexandriteColor-changing precious stone
milky
Whitish and cloudy
semi-transparent · diaphanous · filmy · veiled · gauzy · pellucid · misty · diffused · smoky · alabaster
otherworldly
Seemingly not earthly
fantastical · enchanted · magical · supernatural · spectral · ghostly · ephemeral · transcendent · sublime · fairy
- gemstone-derived termsruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue, amber, amethyst
- paintshouse paint, primer, basecoat, topcoat, clear coat
- sheenluster, shine, gloss, sheen, gleam
- gemstone appearancessparkle, brilliance, luster, clarity, translucent
- iridescenceoil slick, soap bubble, mother-of-pearl, nacre, peacock feather
- iridescentnacreous, prismatic, rainbow, mother of pearl, oil slick
opalescentdull
Lacking edge or interest
matte · lusterless · flat · lackluster · lifeless
opalescentmatte
Non-reflective surface finish
flat · unpolished · non-reflective · rough · chalky
opalescenttransparent
Allowing light through
clear · opaque · crystal-clear · pellucid · crystalline