specular
Like polished glass
Specular describes mirror-like reflection—light bouncing off a surface at a precise angle rather than scattering diffusely.
The term appears in physics, computer graphics, and geology: specular highlights on the water, specular reflection off polished metal.
Specular hematite has a lustrous, reflective surface.
The word connects to speculation through the Latin root for mirror.
Reflective viewing surface
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- glintBrief bright reflection
- gleamFaint reflected light
- glareFierce stare or brightness
highlight · catchlight · hotspot · shine · sheen · luster · gloss · brightness
Returned light or thought
- refractionWave bending between media
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
- incidenceRate of occurrence
- rayNarrow light emission
beam · light · photon · wavefront · diffuse · scattering · albedo · caustics
mirror
Reflective viewing surface
- reflectionReturned light or thought
- glintBrief bright reflection
- gleamFaint reflected light
glare · highlight · catchlight · hotspot · shine · sheen · luster · gloss · brightness · radiance
reflection
Returned light or thought
- refractionWave bending between media
- angleGeometric measure of rotation
- incidenceRate of occurrence
ray · beam · light · photon · wavefront · diffuse · scattering · albedo · caustics · rendering
polished
Smooth, refined, accomplished
lustrous · burnished · buffed · lacquered · glazed · waxed · satiny · silky · mirror-like · reflective
silvering
Depositing reflective metal coating
parabolic · focal · magnification · telescope · periscope · lens · glass · pane · distortion · clarity
speculardiffuse
Spread thinly throughout
matte · nonreflective · nonreflecting · scattered · absorptive
- idle speculation
- market speculationRisky investment based on predictions
- speculative bubbleOvervalued assets awaiting collapse
- speculative fictionGenre of imagined realities
- land speculationBuying terrain for profit
- financial speculationRisky trading for profit