adjective

translucent

tranz-LOO-sunt/trænzˈluːsnt/

Allowing light through without showing clear, detailed images.

The translucent glass blurs the hand behind it.

Hand behind frosted glass visible only as blurred form, daylight passes through, translucent property clear.

Etymology

transLatinthrough

+lucLatinto shine

+entLatinpresent-participle ending

The pieces mean shining through, emphasizing the passage of light. In the selected sense, that passage is only partial: a material such as alabaster admits light without revealing objects clearly.

In context

Adafruit Industries42:30

the lower half here is just kind of printed in this um ivory white trans translucent uh white pla which diffuses nice very nicely

3D Hangouts – LED Shoes, Chaos Emeralds and Fruit Bowls

More examples

The frosted panel was translucent rather than clear.
A translucent slice of onion lay on the board.
The lantern had a translucent paper shade.

Forms

translucent · more translucent · most translucent

translucence noun — the property of transmitting light diffusely

Similar words

transparent: Transparent material permits clear views; translucent material transmits light but blurs detail.
opaque: Opaque material blocks light, unlike translucent material.