Perlin noise

noun

Random-looking visual noise generated by a function, widely used in computer graphics to simulate effects such as fire and clouds.

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Meanings

nounPerlin noise (uncountable)
  1. uncountablecomputer graphicsRandom-looking visual noise generated by a function, widely used in computer graphics to simulate effects such as fire and clouds.

    “And it needs more texture. A bit of Perlin noise. It should look a little rougher, otherwise it doesn’t seem real.”

    2022, Gabrielle Zevin, Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, Vintage (2023), page 476

Origin

After its developer, Ken Perlin.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

Perlin noise. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Perlin%20noise

MLA

“Perlin noise.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Perlin%20noise. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “Perlin noise,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/Perlin%20noise.

Source: Perlin noise on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.