spectrum

Spectrum is the range of colors of wavelength energy sent out from a light source when viewed through a prism.

(noun)

An example of a spectrum is a rainbow.

Spectrum is a broad range of related ideas, qualities or activities.

(noun)

An example of a spectrum is a group of activities used for teaching someone how to play basketball.

YourDictionary definition and usage example. Copyright © 2013 by LoveToKnow Corp.

See spectrum in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun pl. spectra or spectrums

  1. the series of colored bands dispersed and arranged in the order of their respective wavelengths by the passage of white light through a prism or other dispersing device and shading continuously from red (produced by the longest wave visible) through violet (produced by the shortest): the six main colors of the spectrum are red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet, with a seventh color (indigo) sometimes specified, between blue and violet
  2. the intensity of any radiation or motion displayed as a function of frequency, or wavelength
  3. an afterimage
  4. a continuous range or entire extent: a wide spectrum of opinion
    1. radio spectrum
    2. electromagnetic spectrum

Origin: ModL, special use (by Sir Isaac Newton, 1671) of L spectrum: see specter

See spectrum in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun pl. spec·tra (-trə) or spec·trums
  1. Physics The distribution of a characteristic of a physical system or phenomenon, especially:
    a. The distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source, as by an incandescent body, arranged in order of wavelengths.
    b. The distribution of atomic or subatomic particles in a system, as in a magnetically resolved molecular beam, arranged in order of masses.
  2. A graphic or photographic representation of such a distribution.
  3. a. A range of values of a quantity or set of related quantities.
    b. A broad sequence or range of related qualities, ideas, or activities: the whole spectrum of 20th-century thought.

Origin:

Origin: Latin, appearance

Origin: , from specere, to look at; see spek- in Indo-European roots

.

Learn more about spectrum

spectrum

link/cite print suggestion box