transparent

comparative more transparent · superlative most transparent

1. See-through, clear; having the property that light passes through it almost undisturbed, such that one can see through it clearly.

   The waters of the lake were transparent until the factory dumped waste there.

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   "You make the glass invisible by putting it into a liquid of nearly the same refractive index; a transparent thing becomes invisible if it is put in any medium of almost the same refractive index."

   1897, H[erbert] G[eorge] Wells, chapter 19, in The Invisible Man: A Grotesque Romance, New York, N.Y.; London: Harper & Brothers Publishers, →OCLC

   1. artsOf a graphical image or animated GIF, having parts that allow the background to show through.
2. Open, public; having the property that theories and practices are publicly visible, thereby reducing the chance of corruption.
3. Obvious; readily apparent; easy to see or understand.

   His reasons for the decision were transparent.

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   I love playing poker with Steve, because he's so transparent.

   Ukraine's campaign in Kursk Oblast demonstrates that surprise is still possible on the partially transparent battlefield of Ukraine — where an adversary can observe force concentrations but not reliably discern an enemy's operational intent and capabilities.

   2025 February 6, Angelica Evans, “Ukraine’s Kursk Incursion: Six Month Assessment”, in Ukraine Project, Institute for the Study of War

   Synonyms: apparent, clear, obvious

4. computingHaving the property of transparency, i.e. sufficiently accurate that the compressed result is perceptually indistinguishable from the uncompressed input.
5. computingNot noticeable because it happens automatically or in the background; invisible.

   In order to make that transparent to the user, browsers usually cache the usernames and passwords and retransmit them automatically each time they contact the server.

   2003, Rolf Oppliger, Security Technologies for the World Wide Web, page 34

plural transparents

1. Something that is transparent.

   The Dress Cap and Under-Sleeves are en suite. In both the puffings are separated by equal intervals, in which the transparents are uncovered.

   1858 March, G. Brodie, “Fashions for March”, in Harper’s New Monthly Magazine, volume XVI, number XCIV, New York, N.Y.: Harper & Brothers, […], →ISSN, →OCLC, page 576, column 2

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   They can be obtained in various thicknesses and in many colors, including beautiful imitations of pearl, mother-of-pearl, veins and mottles, stratifications, roll stratifications, imitation corals, and all colors of translucents, transparents and opaques, grained ivory, shell (plain and corrugated mottle), onyx, wood effects, plaids, checks, stripes, metallic, bronze pearl plain, bronze pearl with fancy blocks, bronze pearl in veins and stripes, and what is called “essence pearl.”

   1935 March, F. L. Nowosatka, “Making Colorful Modern Rings from Old Toothbrush Handles”, in Raymond J. Brown, editor, Popular Science Monthly, volume 126, number 3, New York, N.Y.: Popular Science Publishing Co., Inc., →ISSN, →OCLC, “The Home Workshop” section, page 97, column 2

   The trick is to make the white core slightly smaller than the size ultimately required for the press, so that after the transparents are added, the bead won’t overflow the press cavity.

   2011, Jeri L. Warhaftig, “Session 7: Silver Butterfly”, in Creating Glass Beads: A New Workshop to Expand Your Beginner Skills and Develop Your Artistic Voice, New York, N.Y.: Lark Crafts, Sterling Publishing Co., Inc., →ISBN, page 86, column 1

plural transparents

1. nonstandardA transgender or transsexual parent.

   Recently the genre has expanded to consider the lives of transpersons of color as well as the experiences of transparents.

   2016, Catherine L. Langford, “Trans*Forming Higher Education to Advance Workforce Diversity”, in Chaunda L. Scott, Jeanetta D. Sims, editors, Developing Workforce Diversity Programs, Curriculum, and Degrees in Higher Education (Advances in Higher Education and Professional Development), Hershey, Pa.: Information Science Reference, →ISBN, section 3 (Future Direction for Workforce Diversity in Higher Education), page 225

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   He went to tranny day in the park. Transparents & their kids. Played baseball & cooked out; hot dogs & burgers & buns on the grill.

   1999, Red Jordan Arobateau, “Tales of Transman: Part II”, in Autumn Changes, [Oakland, Calif.]: Red Jordan Press, published 2010, →ISBN, page 68

   There are also important considerations and conversations that transmen need to have after birth – such as whether to chest/breastfeed, and whether supportive, knowledgeable care around the management of chest or breastfeeding is available. Please find an empathic breastfeeding counsellor or IBCLC who is familiar with supporting transparents to chest or breastfeed if you need further support.

   2020, Lyndsey Hookway, “What about transgender co-parents?”, in Let’s Talk about Your New Family’s Sleep, London: Pinter & Martin, →ISBN, chapter 4 (Positive sleep starts in pregnancy)