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Scintillation
//ˌsɪn.tɪˈleɪ.ʃən// noun
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A flash of light; a spark. countable, uncountable
- 2 the twinkling of the stars caused when changes in the density of the earth's atmosphere produce uneven refraction of starlight wordnet
- 3 The twinkling of a star or other celestial body caused by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere. countable, uncountable
"Do the stars scintillate at all altitudes? Is there any altitude at which it ceases to manifest itself? At Morges the stars in general scintillate at all altitudes, although feebly near the zenith; but on the nights when the scintillation is very faint, it ceases completely at a zenith distance of 45°."
- 4 the quality of shining with a bright reflected light wordnet
- 5 The flash of light produced by something (especially a phosphor) when it absorbs ionizing radiation. countable, uncountable
Show 4 more definitions
- 6 a brilliant display of wit wordnet
- 7 A brief expression that is amusing or clever; witticism. countable, figuratively, uncountable
"[…]here and there were Latin inscriptions—obscene scintillations of wit[…]"
- 8 a rapid change in brightness; a brief spark or flash wordnet
- 9 (physics) a flash of light that is produced in a phosphor when it absorbs a photon or ionizing particle wordnet
Etymology
From scintillate + -ion.
See also for "scintillation"
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