luminosity
pronunciation
How to pronounce luminosity in British English:
UK [ˌlu:mɪ'nɒsətɪ]
How to pronounce luminosity in American English:
US [ˌluːmɪˈnɒsəti]
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- Noun:
- the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light
Word Origin
- luminosity (n.)
- 1630s, "quality of being luminous," from French luminosité or else a native formation from luminous + -ity. In astronomy, "intrinsic brightness of a heavenly body" (as distinguished from apparent magnitude, which diminishes with distance), attested from 1906.
Example
- 1. Specifically , luminosity is proportional to radius squared .
- 2. Specifically , the luminosity of a star is proportional to temperature to the fourth power .
- 3. In principle , one can trace that history back in cosmic time by observing a so-called standard candle , a class of astronomical object whose intrinsic luminosity is uniform .
- 4. And if octopuses , cuttlefish and squid-and some of their predators and prey-can see polarized light so keenly , are they also using it , as they use color and luminosity , to actively create camouflage ?