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View synonyms for spectral

spectral

[ spek-truhl ]

adjective

  1. of or relating to a specter; ghostly; phantom.
  2. resembling or suggesting a specter.
  3. of, relating to, or produced by a spectrum or spectra.
  4. resembling or suggesting a spectrum or spectra.


spectral

/ spɛkˈtrælɪtɪ; ˈspɛktrəl /

adjective

  1. of or like a spectre
  2. of or relating to a spectrum

    spectral colours

  3. physics (of a physical quantity) relating to a single wavelength of radiation

    spectral luminous efficiency



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Derived Forms

  • spectrality, noun
  • ˈspectrally, adverb

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Other Words From

  • spec·trali·ty spectral·ness noun
  • spectral·ly adverb
  • non·spectral adjective
  • non·spectral·ly adverb
  • nonspec·trali·ty noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of spectral1

First recorded in 1710–20; from Latin spectr(um) ( specter ) + -al 1

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Example Sentences

She is a leading expert in modeling potential habitable worlds and their detectable spectral fingerprint, which can be detected with the next generation of telescopes.

The monsters—writhing spectral figures, literally faceless women—are nothing we haven’t seen before.

From Time

In the story, London is split between people with homes and those who live on the street, and again divided between human beings and a spectral race of aliens that has claimed the Square Mile as its own.

In particular, the visible light shows spectral signatures of shock waves, which result when high-speed gas from a supernova slams into gas around it.

His brother Niles, also a psychiatrist, is, for a time, married to Maris, a spectral caricature who’s never seen on the show.

But Kasich and Walker face competitive re-elections; their national presence is spectral, their national potential speculative.

Where the Austin building is nuanced and almost spectral, Bakersfield is all verve and gesture.

What a spectral and exaggerated shape all things take in her scared and over-excited gaze!

Even as I looked I saw the features of a human countenance—and yet not human either, so spectral was it, so unreal and strange.

Our fellows were being hard beset to hold on to what they had won; there, where the horizon stood out with spectral luminosity.

Spectral shapes issue forth suddenly, and return as suddenly into the deep shade.

Mist floated upward from marsh and lake; and through it the spectral palms loomed, drooping fronds embroidered with dew.

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spectraspectral line