Albedo

//ælˈbi.doʊ// noun

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    The fraction of incident light or radiation reflected by a surface or body, commonly expressed as a percentage. countable, uncountable

    "For track, painting rails white at weak points that are more prone to buckling (where the 'critical rail temperature' is close to the 'stress free temperature' [...]) increases their albedo and can help slow how quickly they heat up, reducing their temperature by perhaps five degrees or so."

  2. 2
    the ratio of reflected to incident light wordnet
  3. 3
    The whitish inner portion of the rind of citrus fruits that is a source of pectin, commonly referred to as the pith. countable, uncountable
  4. 4
    One of the four major stages of the magnum opus, involving purification of the prima materia. countable, uncountable

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin albēdō (“whiteness”).

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