translucent
Lets light through
Translucent describes materials that allow light to pass through but scatter it, so you can't see clearly through them.
Frosted glass, wax paper, and thin fabric are translucent—light comes through, but shapes appear blurred or indistinct.
The word falls between transparent (fully clear) and opaque (blocks light entirely): The translucent curtains softened the afternoon sun.
Allowing vision through
- glassySmooth and shiny
- crystalOrdered-atom solid
- limpidPerfectly clear, unclouded
- clearWithout obstruction or fog
diaphanous · sheer · gossamer · filmy · gauzy · vitreous · hyaline · crystalline
Without roughness or difficulty
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
- thinSmall in diameter
- fineAcceptable in quality
- filmyThin and translucent
wispy · airy · gossamer · sheer · silky · fragile · papery · waxy
Covered with icy film
- glassTransparent solid from sand
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
- waxPliable waterproof substance
resin · plastic · membrane · tissue · onionskin · alabaster · jade · opal
see-through
Allowing vision through
clear · diaphanous · sheer · gossamer · filmy · gauzy · vitreous · hyaline · crystalline · semitransparent
smooth
Without roughness or difficulty
filmy · wispy · airy · gossamer · sheer · silky · fragile · papery · waxy · gelatinous
frosted
Covered with icy film
- glassTransparent solid from sand
- vellumPrepared calfskin for writing
- parchmentTreated hide for manuscripts
wax · resin · plastic · membrane · tissue · onionskin · alabaster · jade · opal · mica
luminous
Emitting or reflecting light
- glowingGiving off steady light
- diffuseSpread thinly throughout
- filteredScreened to remove contaminants
softened · milky · opalescent · hazy · misty · veiled · tinted · clouded · muted · pale
semiopaque
Partially blocking light
blurred · obscured · shadowy · dim · faint · indistinct · partial · hazy · cloudy · nebulous
- art termspainting, sculpture, drawing, portrait, landscape
- transparencyopenness, disclosure, clarity, honesty, candor
- beauty termsmatte, dewy, hydrating, moisturizing, smoothing
- paper qualitiessmooth, rough, glossy, matte, textured
- skin descriptionssmooth, rough, dry, oily, fair
- colorlesscolorless, achromatic, hueless, desaturated, grayscale
translucentopaque
Impassable to light
impenetrable · nontranslucent · lightproof · solid · dense
translucentopaque
Impassable to light
clear · crystal-clear · transparent · blocked · pellucid
- translucent glassPartially transparent glazing
- translucent powderSheer cosmetic for setting
- nuchal translucencyFetal neck-fold thickness assessment