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spectrum

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spec⋅trum

  [spek-truhm]
Use spectrum in a Sentence
–noun, plural -tra  [-truh] , -trums.
1. Physics.
a. an array of entities, as light waves or particles, ordered in accordance with the magnitudes of a common physical property, as wavelength or mass: often the band of colors produced when sunlight is passed through a prism, comprising red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
b. this band or series of colors together with extensions at the ends that are not visible to the eye, but that can be studied by means of photography, heat effects, etc., and that are produced by the dispersion of radiant energy other than ordinary light rays. Compare band spectrum, electromagnetic spectrum, mass spectrum.
2. a broad range of varied but related ideas or objects, the individual features of which tend to overlap so as to form a continuous series or sequence: the spectrum of political beliefs.
Origin:
1605–15; < L: appearance, form, equiv. to spec(ere) to look, regard + -trum instrumental n. suffix
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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spec·trum   (spěk'trəm)   
n.   pl. spec·tra (-trə) or spec·trums

  1. Physics The distribution of a characteristic of a physical system or phenomenon, especially:

    1. The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, as by an incandescent body, arranged in order of wavelengths.

    2. The distribution of atomic or subatomic particles in a system, as in a magnetically resolved molecular beam, arranged in order of masses.

    3. A range of values of a quantity or set of related quantities.

    4. A broad sequence or range of related qualities, ideas, or activities: the whole spectrum of 20th-century thought.

  2. A graphic or photographic representation of such a distribution.

    1. A range of values of a quantity or set of related quantities.

    2. A broad sequence or range of related qualities, ideas, or activities: the whole spectrum of 20th-century thought.


[Latin, appearance, from specere, to look at; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

spectrum

The range of wavelengths characteristic of a specific type of radiation.

Note: The spectrum making up visible light contains light in the colors violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red, with violet having the shortest wavelength and highest frequency, and red having the longest wavelength and lowest frequency.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

spectrum 
1611, "apparition, specter," from L. spectrum "appearance, image, apparition," from specere "to look at, view" (see scope (1)). Meaning "band of colors formed from a beam of light" first recorded 1671. Spectroscope (1861) is a hybrid, with Gk. -skopion, from skopein "to look at, examine," which is from the same PIE root as spectrum.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: spec·trum
Pronunciation: 'spek-tr&m
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural spec·tra /-tr&/ or spectrums
1 a : a continuum of color formed when a beam of white light is dispersed (as by passage through a prism) so that its component wavelengths are arranged in order b : any of various continua that resemble a spectrum in consisting of an ordered arrangement by a particular characteristic (as frequency or energy): as (1) : ELECTROMAGNETIC SPECTRUM (2) : MASSSPECTRUM c : the representation (as a plot) of a spectrum
2 : a continuous sequence or range; specifically : a range of effectivenessagainst pathogenic organisms spectrum>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

spectrum spec·trum (spěk'trəm)
n. pl. spec·trums or spec·tra (-trə)

  1. The distribution of a characteristic of a physical system or phenomenon, especially the distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source arranged in order of wavelengths.

  2. The color image presented when white light is resolved into its constituent colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.

  3. The plot of intensity as opposed to wavelength of light emitted or absorbed by a substance, usually characteristic of the substance and used in qualitative and quantitative analysis.

  4. The distribution of atomic or subatomic particles in a system, as in a magnetically resolved molecular beam, arranged in order of masses.

  5. The group of pathogenic organisms against which an antibiotic or other antibacterial agent is effective.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
spectrum   (spěk'trəm)  Pronunciation Key 
Plural spectra (spěk'trə) or spectrums

  1. A range over which some measurable property of a physical phenomenon, such as the frequency of sound or electromagnetic radiation, or the mass of specific kinds of particles, can vary. For example, the spectrum of visible light is the range of electromagnetic radiation with frequencies between between 4.7 × 1014 and 7.5 × 1014 hertz.

  2. The observed distribution of a phenomenon across a range of measurement. See more at atomic spectrum, spectroscopy.


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Computing Dictionary

Spectrum
ZX Spectrum

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © 1993-2007 Denis Howe
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