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transparent - 7 dictionary results

trans⋅par⋅ent

  [trans-pair-uhnt, -par-]
Use transparent in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having the property of transmitting rays of light through its substance so that bodies situated beyond or behind can be distinctly seen.
2. admitting the passage of light through interstices.
3. so sheer as to permit light to pass through; diaphanous.
4. easily seen through, recognized, or detected: transparent excuses.
5. manifest; obvious: a story with a transparent plot.
6. open; frank; candid: the man's transparent earnestness.
7. Computers. (of a process or software) operating in such a way as to not be perceived by users.
8. Obsolete. shining through, as light.
Origin:
1375–1425; late ME < ML trānspārent- (s. of trānspārēns) showing through (prp. of trānspārēre), equiv. to L trāns- trans- + pārent- (s. of pārēns), prp. of pārēre to appear; see apparent

Related forms:
trans⋅par⋅ent⋅ly, adverb
trans⋅par⋅ent⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
1. clear, pellucid, limpid, crystalline. Transparent, translucent agree in describing material that light rays can pass through. That which is transparent allows objects to be seen clearly through it: Clear water is transparent. That which is translucent allows light to pass through, diffusing it, however, so that objects beyond are not distinctly seen: Ground glass is translucent.

Antonyms:
1. opaque. 6. secretive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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trans·par·ent   (trāns-pâr'ənt, -pār'-)   
adj.  
  1. Capable of transmitting light so that objects or images can be seen as if there were no intervening material. See Synonyms at clear.
  2. Permeable to electromagnetic radiation of specified frequencies, as to visible light or radio waves.
  3. So fine in texture that it can be seen through; sheer. See Synonyms at airy.
    1. Easily seen through or detected; obvious: transparent lies.
    2. Free from guile; candid or open: transparent sincerity.
  5. Obsolete Shining through; luminous.

[Middle English, from Old French, from Medieval Latin trānspārēns, trānspārent-, present participle of trānspārēre, to show through : Latin trāns-, trans- + Latin pārēre, to show.]
trans·par'ent·ly adv.
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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Transparent

Trans*par"ent\, a. [F., from LL. transparens, -entis, p. pr. of transparere to be transparent; L. trans across, through + parere to appear. See Appear.]

1. Having the property of transmitting rays of light, so that bodies can be distinctly seen through; pervious to light; diaphanous; pellucid; as, transparent glass; a transparent diamond; -- opposed to opaque. "Transparent elemental air." --Milton.

2. Admitting the passage of light; open; porous; as, a transparent veil. --Dryden.

Syn: Translucent; pellucid; clear; bright; limpid; lucid; diaphanous. See Translucent. -- Trans*par"ent*ly, adv. -- Trans*par"ent*ness, n.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : transparent
Spanish: transparente,
German: durchsichtig,
Japanese: 透明な
More Translations »

transparent 
1413, from M.L. transparentem (nom. transparens), prp. of transparere "show light through," from L. trans- "through" + parere "come in sight, appear." Figurative sense of "easily seen through" is first attested 1592. The attempt to back-form a verb transpare (1604) died with the 17c.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Main Entry: trans·par·ent
Pronunciation: -&nt
Function: adjective
1 : having the property of transmitting light without appreciablescattering so that bodies lying beyond are seen clearly
2 : allowing the passage of a specified form of radiation (as X rays or ultraviolet light)
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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transparent   (trāns-pâr'ənt)  Pronunciation Key 
Allowing radiation or matter to pass through with little or no resistance or diffusion. Compare opaque, translucent. See Note at glass.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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transparent
1. Not visible, hidden; said of a system which functions in a manner not evident to the user. For example, the Domain Name System transparently resolves a fully qualified domain name into an IP address without the user being aware of it.
Compare this to what Donald Norman calls "invisibility", which he illustrates from the user's point of view:
"You use computers when you use many modern automobiles, microwave ovens, games, CD players and calculators. You don't notice the computer because you think of yourself as doing the task, not as using the computer." ["The Design of Everyday Things", New York, Doubleday, 1989, p. 185].
2. Fully defined, known, predictable; said of a sub-system in which matters generally subject to volition or stochastic state change have been chosen, measured, or determined by the environment. Thus for transparent systems, output is a known function of the inputs, and users can both predict the behaviour and depend upon it.
(1996-06-04)

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