diaphanous

di·aph·a·nous  (d-f-ns)

adj.

1. Of such fine texture as to be transparent or translucent: diaphanous tulle.

2. Characterized by delicacy of form. See Synonyms at airy.

3. Vague or insubstantial: diaphanous dreams of glory.

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[From Medieval Latin diaphanus, transparent, from Greek diaphans, from diaphainein, to be transparent : dia-, dia- + phainein, phan-, to show; see bh-¹ in Indo-European roots.]

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dia·pha·nei·ty (d-f-n-t), di·apha·nous·ness n.

di·apha·nous·ly adv.

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diaphanous [die-af-fan-uss]

Adjective

(of fabrics) fine and translucent [Greek diaphanēs transparent]

Thesaurus

Adj.

1.

diaphanous - 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" cobwebby, filmy, gauze-like, gauzy, see-through, vaporous, vapourous, gossamer, transparent, sheer thin - of relatively small extent from one surface to the opposite or in cross section; "thin wire"; "a thin chiffon blouse"; "a thin book"; "a thin layer of paint"