spectrum

spec·trum  (spktrm)

n. pl. spec·tra (-tr) 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.

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[Latin, appearance, from specere, to look at; see spek- in Indo-European roots.]

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spectrum

Noun

pl -tra

1. Physics the distribution of colours produced when white light is dispersed by a prism or grating: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red

2. Physics the whole range of electromagnetic radiation with respect to its wavelength or frequency

3. a range or scale of anything such as opinions or emotions [Latin: image]

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spectrum  (spktrm)

Plural spectra (spktr) or spectrums

1. A range over which some measurable property of a physical phenomenon, such as the frequency of sound or electromagnetic radiation, or the mass of specific kinds of particles, can vary. For example, the spectrum of visible light is the range of electromagnetic radiation with frequencies between between 4.7 × 10¹⁴ and 7.5 × 10¹⁴ hertz.

2. The observed distribution of a phenomenon across a range of measurement. See more at atomic spectrumspectroscopy

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	spectrum - an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave spectrum line - an isolated component of a spectrum formed by radiation at a uniform frequency array - an orderly arrangement; "an array of troops in battle order" absorption spectrum - the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that has passed through a medium that absorbed radiation of certain wavelengths action spectrum - the efficiency with which electromagnetic radiation produces a photochemical reaction plotted as a function of the wavelength of the radiation atomic spectrum - (physics) a spectrum of radiation caused by electron transitions within an atom; the series of spectrum lines is characteristic of the element electromagnetic spectrum - the entire frequency range of electromagnetic waves emission spectrum - spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a self-luminous source infrared spectrum - the spectrum of infrared radiation line spectrum - a spectrum in which energy is concentrated at particular wavelengths; produced by excited atoms and ions as they fall back to a lower energy level mass spectrum - a distribution of ions as shown by a mass spectrograph or a mass spectrometer microwave spectrum - the part of the electromagnetic spectrum corresponding to microwaves radio spectrum, radio-frequency spectrum - the entire spectrum of electromagnetic frequencies used for communications; includes frequencies used for radio and radar and television acoustic spectrum, sound spectrum - the distribution of energy as a function of frequency for a particular sound source ultraviolet spectrum - the spectrum of ultraviolet radiation color spectrum, visible spectrum - the distribution of colors produced when light is dispersed by a prism
	2.	spectrum - a broad range of related objects or values or qualities or ideas or activities ambit, range, scope, reach, compass, orbit - an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control: "the range of a supersonic jet"; "a piano has a greater range than the human voice"; "the ambit of municipal legislation"; "within the compass of this article"; "within the scope of an investigation"; "outside the reach of the law"; "in the political orbit of a world power"

Translations

spectrum [pl spectra] [ˈspɛktrəm, -trə] n → espectro

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spectrum [spectra , pl ] [ˈspɛktrəm, -rə] n → spectre m (fig); gamme f

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spectrum [ˈspɛktrəm] [spectra , pl ] n (lit, fig) → Spektrum nt

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spectrum [pl spectra] [ˈspɛktrəm, -rə] n → spettro;

(fig) → gamma