Standard Lemma guide

opalescent

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /oʊpəˈlɛsənt/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɛsənt

1

adj

Meaning 1

Exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

having a play of lustrous rainbow colors

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an iridescent oil slick
  • nacreous (or pearlescent) clouds looking like mother-of-pearl
  • a milky opalescent (or opaline) luster

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: iridescent, nacreous, opaline, pearlescent

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From opal + -escent, after opalescence or French opalescent. First attested in 1814.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Czech: opaleskující — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Czech: opalizující — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Czech: opalescentní — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Finnish: opaalinhohtoinen — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Finnish: opaalinen — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • French: opalescent — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Hindi: दूधिया (dūdhiyā) — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Irish: ópalach — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Italian: opalescente — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Portuguese: opalescente — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Romanian: opalescent — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
  • Spanish: opalescente — exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal