opalescent (adj.)

"having variegated and changing colors like those of an opal," 1810, from opal + -escent. Perhaps via French opalescent.

Entries linking to opalescent

opal (n.)

"mineral like quartz but without crystalline structure," 1590s, from French opalle (16c.) and directly from Late Latin opalus (Pliny), supposedly from Greek opallios, which is possibly ultimately from Sanskrit upala-s "gem, precious stone." Used in Middle English in Latin form (late 14c.). Related: Opaline.

-escent

word-forming element meaning "beginning, becoming, tending to be," from Latin -escentem (nominative -escens), ending of present participles of verbs in -escere.

opalescence (n.)

"iridescence like that of an opal, a play of colors milky rather than brilliant," 1792; see opalescent + -ence. Perhaps via French opalescence.

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Definitions of opalescent

opalescent (adj.)

having a play of lustrous rainbow colors;

a milky opalescent (or opaline) luster

Synonyms: iridescent / nacreous / opaline / pearlescent

From wordnet.princeton.edu

Dictionary entries near opalescent

op. cit.

opacity

opafication

opal

opalescence

opalescent

opaque

ope

OPEC

op-ed

open