Added 9 October 2026
incandescent
/ˌɪn.kænˈdɛs.ənt/ adjective
Latin root: incandescens Wiktionary
adjective Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about incandescent at Wordnik → Where our words come from →
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Emitting light as a result of being heated.
an incandescent bulb
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Characterized by ardent emotion or intensity or brilliance.
an incandescent performance
Origin
Borrowed from French incandescent, from Latin incandescens, from incandesco (“be heated, glow”), from in- (intensifying prefix) + candesco (“become white”), from candidus (“white”).
From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)