Definitions for Spectrum
ˈspɛk trəmspec·trum

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:3.4 / 10 votes

1. spectrumnoun

   an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave

2. spectrumnoun

   a broad range of related objects or values or qualities or ideas or activities

WiktionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 4 votes

1. spectrumnoun

   Specter, apparition.

2. spectrumnoun

   A range; a continuous, infinite, one-dimensional set, possibly bounded by extremes.

3. spectrumnoun

   Specifically, a range of colours representing light (electromagnetic radiation) of contiguous frequencies; hence electromagnetic spectrum, visible spectrum, ultraviolet spectrum, etc.

4. spectrumnoun

   The pattern of absorption or emission of radiation produced by a substance when subjected to energy (radiation, heat, electricity, etc.).

5. spectrumnoun

   The set of eigenvalues of a matrix.

6. spectrumnoun

   Of a bounded linear operator A, the set of scalar values u03BB such that the operator Au03BBI, where I denotes the identity operator, does not have a bounded inverse; intended as a generalisation of the linear algebra sense.

7. Etymology: From spectrum, from specio. (see scope)

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectrumnoun

   An image; a visible form.

   Etymology: Latin.

   This prism had some veins running along within the glass, from the one end to the other, which scattered some of the sun’s light irregularly, but had no sensible effect in encreasing the length of the coloured spectrum. Isaac Newton, Opticks.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectrum

   A spectrum (plural spectra or spectrums) is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary, without gaps, across a continuum. The word was first used scientifically in optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light after passing through a prism. As scientific understanding of light advanced, it came to apply to the entire electromagnetic spectrum. It thereby became a mapping of a range of magnitudes (wavelengths) to a range of qualities, which are the perceived "colors of the rainbow" and other properties which correspond to wavelengths that lie outside of the visible light spectrum. Spectrum has since been applied by analogy to topics outside optics. Thus, one might talk about the "spectrum of political opinion", or the "spectrum of activity" of a drug, or the "autism spectrum". In these uses, values within a spectrum may not be associated with precisely quantifiable numbers or definitions. Such uses imply a broad range of conditions or behaviors grouped together and studied under a single title for ease of discussion. Nonscientific uses of the term spectrum are sometimes misleading. For instance, a single left–right spectrum of political opinion does not capture the full range of people's political beliefs. Political scientists use a variety of biaxial and multiaxial systems to more accurately characterize political opinion. In most modern usages of spectrum there is a unifying theme between the extremes at either end. This was not always true in older usage.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:3.0 / 2 votes

1. Spectrumnoun

   an apparition; a specter

2. Spectrumnoun

   the several colored and other rays of which light is composed, separated by the refraction of a prism or other means, and observed or studied either as spread out on a screen, by direct vision, by photography, or otherwise. See Illust. of Light, and Spectroscope

3. Spectrumnoun

   a luminous appearance, or an image seen after the eye has been exposed to an intense light or a strongly illuminated object. When the object is colored, the image appears of the complementary color, as a green image seen after viewing a red wafer lying on white paper. Called also ocular spectrum

4. Etymology: [L. See Specter.]

FreebaseRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectrum

   A spectrum is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. The word saw its first scientific use within the field of optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light when separated using a prism; it has since been applied by analogy to many fields other than optics. Thus, one might talk about the spectrum of political opinion, or the spectrum of activity of a drug, or the autism spectrum. In these uses, values within a spectrum may not be associated with precisely quantifiable numbers or definitions. Such uses imply a broad range of conditions or behaviors grouped together and studied under a single title for ease of discussion. In most modern usages of spectrum there is a unifying theme between extremes at either end. Some older usages of the word did not have a unifying theme, but they led to modern ones through a sequence of events set out below. Modern usages in mathematics did evolve from a unifying theme, but this may be difficult to recognize.

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectrum

   spek′trum, n. the image of something seen continued after the eyes are closed: the colours of light separated by a prism, and exhibited as spread out on a screen:—pl. Spec′tra.—n. Spec′trograph, an apparatus for photographing a spectrum.—adjs. Spectrograph′ic, -al.—n. Spectrog′raphy, the art of using the spectrograph.—adj. Spectrolog′ical.—adv. Spectrolog′ically.—ns. Spectrol′ogy, the division of physical science that embraces spectrum analysis: demonology; Spectrom′eter, an instrument like a spectroscope, by means of which the angular deviation of a ray of light in passing through a prism can be accurately measured.—adj. Spectromet′ric.—n. Spec′trophōne, an adaptation of the spectroscope, in which, on the principle of the radiophone, perception of a succession of sounds takes the place of observation by the eye.—adj. Spectrophon′ic.—ns. Spec′tro-polar′iscope, a polariscope combined with a spectroscope; Spec′troscope, an instrument for forming and examining spectra of luminous bodies, so as to determine their composition.—adjs. Spectroscōp′ic, -al.—adv. Spectroscōp′ically.—ns. Spec′troscōpist, one skilled in spectroscopy; Spec′troscōpy, the use of the spectroscope and the study of spectrum analysis. [L.,—specĕre, to see.]

The Nuttall EncyclopediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. Spectrum

   the name given to coloured and other rays of pure light separated by refraction in its transmission through a prism, as exhibited on a screen in a darkened chamber.

Dictionary of Nautical TermsRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spectrum

   The variously coloured image into which a ray of light is divided on being passed through a prism.

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spectrum

   A variety of color or light.

   The color spectrum is so beautiful when you see the scope and size of it.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on February 17, 2020  

Suggested ResourcesRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. spectrum

   Song lyrics by spectrum -- Explore a large variety of song lyrics performed by spectrum on the Lyrics.com website.

Matched Categories

1. • Array
   • Range

British National Corpus

1. Nouns Frequency

   Rank popularity for the word 'Spectrum' in Nouns Frequency: #1872

Anagrams for Spectrum »

1. cepstrum

2. crumpets

How to pronounce Spectrum?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say Spectrum in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of Spectrum in Chaldean Numerology is: 8

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of Spectrum in Pythagorean Numerology is: 7

Examples of Spectrum in a Sentence

1. Ada Hamosh:

   From a clinical perspective, once you see enough (patients) you can define the (symptom) spectrum, age of onset, other organs the disease affects, what their prognosis is, that's what parents ask for. They can say, 'I just met a 30-year-old with this condition.' It's not a cure, it's not a treatment, but it's the power of diagnosis and having a name to put on this condition.

2. Paulina Salminen:

   Every time you use antibiotics, you have to think about the risk of developing antibiotic resistance, (especially) because the antibiotics used here are very broad spectrum.

3. Telekom Austria:

   The Group's target for the full-year 2016 envisages an increase in revenues of roughly 1 percent and CAPEX before spectrum investments and acquisitions of 750 million euros.

4. Glyn Morgan:

   The support for Ukraine is shared across the British political spectrum -- left and right, political classes and the military-administrative classes... Boris Johnsons departure will have no impact, other than that Boris Johnsons successor will not be as charismatic.

5. The Cruz:

   What we're seeing all across the country is the momentum is with us, you want to talk about a broad coalition, ideologically diverse - that covers the entire spectrum of the Republican Party.

Popularity rank by frequency of use