Definition

1. Verb (intransitive):

   • To become incandescent; to glow with intense heat, emitting visible light as a result of being heated to a high temperature.
   • To emit light as a result of being heated.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To cause something to become incandescent; to heat something until it glows with visible light.

Usage Examples

• Intransitive Verb:

  • The filament of the old bulb began to incandesce when I switched it on.
  • Certain metals will incandesce at very high temperatures.

• Transitive Verb:

  • The blacksmith incandesced the iron in the forge before shaping it.
  • The experiment required them to incandesce the wire using an electric current.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Scientific Context: The verb is often used in physics, engineering, and materials science to describe the process of thermal radiation where an object emits light due to its high temperature.
  • The researcher observed the sample incandesce under the intense heat of the laser.

Variants and Related Words

• Incandescent (adj.): Emitting light as a result of being heated; shining brightly. Also used figuratively to describe someone as very intelligent or passionate.

  • The incandescent light bulb is an older technology.
  • She gave an incandescent performance on stage.

• Incandescence (n.): The phenomenon of emitting light due to high temperature; the state of being incandescent.

  • The incandescence of the molten lava was visible from miles away.

Synonyms

• Glow: To emit a steady, warm light, often (but not exclusively) due to heat.
• Radiate: To emit energy, especially light or heat, in the form of rays or waves.
• Luminesce: To emit light, but not necessarily due to heat (e.g., bioluminescence, phosphorescence).

Notes on Meaning

• The core meaning of "incandesce" is specifically tied to light emission from heat. It is not used for light from electrical discharge (like in neon signs) or chemical reactions without significant heat.
• It is a more technical and less common verb than its adjective form "incandescent."

Verb

1. become incandescent or glow with heat
   • an incandescing body
2. cause to become incandescent or glow
   • the lamp was incandesced