diaphanous

/dai'æfənəs/

Thân thiện

A dancer's diaphanous skirt flows as she twirls on stage.

Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Extremely light, delicate, and translucent; so fine or thin as to allow light to pass through, often creating a hazy or ethereal appearance. This describes materials or substances that are nearly transparent but with a slight cloudiness or soft diffusion of light.

Usage

• Describing fabrics and materials: Most commonly used for textiles like veils, silks, or chiffon that are sheer and light.
• Describing natural phenomena: Can be used for things like mist, clouds, or insect wings that have a delicate, see-through quality.
• Figurative use: Occasionally used in a poetic or literary sense to describe something vague, insubstantial, or ethereal.

Examples

• The bride wore a diaphanous gown that floated around her as she walked.
• Through the diaphanous morning mist, the outline of the mountains was just visible.
• The dancer's diaphanous scarves fluttered with every movement.

Advanced Usage

• "Diaphanous beauty": A poetic phrase describing a delicate, ethereal, and almost fragile attractiveness.
  • The painting captured the diaphanous beauty of the fairy's wings.
• "Diaphanous memory": A literary way to describe a vague, faint, or barely recalled memory.
  • Only a diaphanous memory of his childhood home remained.

Variants and Related Words

• Diaphanously (adverb): In a diaphanous manner.
  • The curtains hung diaphanously in the sunlit room.
• Diaphanousness (noun): The quality of being diaphanous.
  • The diaphanousness of the fabric made it perfect for the summer dress.

Synonyms

• Sheer: Very thin and fine, almost completely transparent. (e.g., sheer stockings)
• Gauzy: Made of or resembling gauze; very thin and light.
• Filmy: Very thin and often slightly hazy.
• Gossamer: A fine, filmy substance, extremely light and delicate.
• Transparent: Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen. (More clear than diaphanous)
• Vaporous: Resembling or consisting of vapor; misty and insubstantial.

Antonyms

• Opaque: Not able to be seen through; not transparent.
• Dense: Closely compacted in substance; thick.
• Solid: Firm and stable in shape; not liquid or fluid.

Học thuật

Adjective

1. so thin as to transmit light
   • a hat with a diaphanous veil
   • filmy wings of a moth
   • gauzy clouds of dandelion down
   • gossamer cobwebs
   • sheer silk stockings
   • transparent chiffon
   • vaporous silks