Specular

//ˈspɛk.jə.lɚ// adj

adj ·Rare ·Advanced level

Definitions

Adjective
  1. 1
    Pertaining to mirrors; mirror-like, reflective.

    "a perfect likeness would rather suggest a specular, and hence speculatory, phenomenon [...]."

  2. 2
    Of or relating to a speculum; conducted with the aid of a speculum.

    "a specular examination"

  3. 3
    Assisting sight, like a lens etc.

    "Thy specular orb / Apply to well-dissected kernels; lo! / In each observe the slender threads / Of first-beginning trees."

  4. 4
    Offering an expansive view; picturesque. poetic

    "Calm as the Universe, from specular towers / Of heaven contemplated by Spirits pure."

Adjective
  1. 1
    capable of reflecting light like a mirror wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
mirrorlikemirrorlike

Example

More examples

"Specular image holds an important place in Lakan's theory of the Imaginary."

Etymology

From Latin speculāris, from speculum; and in some senses from speculārī (“to watch, observe”). Some later senses via French spéculaire.

Related phrases

specular ironspecular stone

More for "specular"

SynonymsSentencesPronunciationTranslate

Next best steps

Find stronger synonymsSee usage examplesCheck pronunciationBrowse writing guides

Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.