retardance

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noun

The difference in phase shift between two characteristic polarizations of light upon reflection from an interface. Retardance can be reported in the Abelès or Mueller conventions. The retardance phase shift angle is often specified in degrees.

OriginMiddle French retardance →
Scrabble 13
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Meanings

nounretardance (countable and uncountable, plural retardances)

plural retardances

  1. countableuncountablenatural sciencesThe difference in phase shift between two characteristic polarizations of light upon reflection from an interface. Retardance can be reported in the Abelès or Mueller conventions. The retardance phase shift angle is often specified in degrees.

Origin

  1. Middle Frenchretardance
  2. Englishretardance

From Middle French retardance.

More words from Middle French

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

retardance. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardance

MLA

“retardance.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardance. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “retardance,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/retardance.

Source: retardance on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.