Meanings
adjectiveopalescent (comparative more opalescent, superlative most opalescent)
comparative more opalescent · superlative most opalescent
- Exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal.
Below me, through the opalescent surface, I saw the white ghost of the Cessna.
1979, J.G. Ballard, The Unlimited Dream Company, chapter 9
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectivehaving a play of lustrous rainbow colors
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
- Frenchopalescent
- Englishopalescent
From opal + -escent, after opalescence or French opalescent. First attested in 1814.
More words from French
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Czech opaleskující, opalizující
- opaleskujícíexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
- opalizujícíexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
- opalescentníexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Finnish opaalinhohtoinen, opaalinen
- opaalinhohtoinenexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
- opaalinenexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
French opalescent
- opalescentexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Hindi दूधिया
- दूधिया (dūdhiyā)exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Irish ópalach
- ópalachexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Italian opalescente
- opalescenteexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Portuguese opalescente
- opalescenteexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Romanian opalescent
- opalescentexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Spanish opalescente
- opalescenteexhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with opalescent
crescentfluorescentantidepressantincandescentconvalescentsuppressantiridescentincessantluminescentquiescentpubescentdepressanteffervescentpearlescentflorescentevanescentelectroluminescenttumescentphosphorescentessentprepubescentsenescentobsolescentchemiluminescent
All rhymes →Cite this entry
APA
opalescent. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opalescent
MLA
“opalescent.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opalescent. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “opalescent,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/opalescent.
Source: opalescent on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.