The spectrum is the range of different colours which is produced when light passes through a glass prism or through a drop of water. A rainbow shows the colours in the spectrum.
2. countable noun [usually singular]
A spectrum is a range of a particular type of thing.
She'd seen his moods range across the emotional spectrum.
Politicians across the political spectrum have denounced the act.
The term 'special needs' covers a wide spectrum of problems.
3. countable noun
A spectrum is a range of light waves or radio waves within particular frequencies.
...from X-rays right through the spectrum down to radio waves.
...the individual colours within the light spectrum.
...the ultraviolet spectra of hot stars.
More Synonyms of spectrum
spectrum in British English
(ˈspɛktrəm)
nounWord forms: plural-tra (-trə)
1.
the distribution of colours produced when white light is dispersed by a prism or diffraction grating. There is a continuous change in wavelength from red, the longest wavelength, to violet, the shortest. Seven colours are usually distinguished: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red
2.
the whole range of electromagnetic radiation with respect to its wavelength or frequency
3.
any particular distribution of electromagnetic radiation often showing lines or bands characteristic of the substance emitting the radiation or absorbing it
See also absorption spectrum, emission spectrum
4.
any similar distribution or record of the energies, velocities, masses, etc, of atoms, ions, electrons, etc
a mass spectrum
5.
any range or scale, as of capabilities, emotions, or moods
6. another name for an afterimage
7. on the spectrum
Word origin
C17: from Latin: appearance, image, from spectāre to observe, from specere to look at
spectrum in American English
(ˈspɛktrəm)
nounWord forms: pluralˈspectra (ˈspɛktrə) or ˈspectrums
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
5.
a.
radio spectrum
b.
electromagnetic spectrum
Word origin
ModL, special use (by Newton2, 1671) of L spectrum: see specter
COBUILD Collocations
spectrum
political spectrum
wide spectrum
Examples of 'spectrum' in a sentence
spectrum
They represented a wide spectrum of female experience.
Christianity Today (2000)
They appeal to quite a different age spectrum.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The entire chart is called the electromagnetic spectrum.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
The pilot project has provoked criticism from both ends of the political spectrum.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
The radio spectrum bounty has taken on huge political significance for the government.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This is because light filtered through glass is missing the more beneficial part of the spectrum.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley Stay Well This Winter (1989)
We expect it to be read across the whole spectrum of society.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
They are going to go for a broader spectrum.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
There is a wide spectrum of problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
At the other end of the immigration spectrum a different sort of chaos reigns.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Light with its back turned to the electromagnetic spectrum.
Aldiss, Brian Somewhere East of Life (1994)
The incident helped to cement his reputation for integrity across the political spectrum.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
This company supplies full spectrum light tubes which can be used in standard fluorescent tube fittings.
Martlew, Gillian & Silver, Shelley Stay Well This Winter (1989)
Training embraces a whole spectrum of possibilities.
O'Connor, Joseph & Seymour, John Training with N.L.P. (1994)
There is a wide spectrum of opinion in athletics.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
This points to the importance of a balanced diet containing a broad spectrum of plant and animal foods.
Stanway, Dr Andrew Miracle Micronutrients (1987)
At the other end of the spectrum, boring blue shirts seem to make men virtually disappear.
The Sun (2012)
He was the opposite end of the emotional spectrum to Schmeichel.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Britain has lagged behind with 4G due to a shortage of the radio spectrum needed to carry signals.
The Sun (2012)
Though they have not found the boson, they have narrowed down where in the energy spectrum they hope to find it.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
These range across the spectrum from IT to biotech.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Human eyes perceive optical waves, but the optical part of the spectrum occupies only a very small part of the total spectrum of radiant energy.
Schneider, Hermann & Schneider, Leo The Harper Dictionary of Science in Everyday Language (1988)
In other languages
spectrum
British English: spectrum NOUN
The spectrum is the range of different colours which is produced when light passes through a glass prism or through a drop of water. A rainbow shows the colours in the spectrum.
American English: spectrum
Brazilian Portuguese: espectro
Chinese: 光谱
European Spanish: espectro
French: spectre
German: Spektrum
Italian: spettro
Japanese: スペクトル
Korean: 스펙트럼
European Portuguese: espetro
Latin American Spanish: espectro
All related terms of 'spectrum'
band spectrum
a spectrum consisting of a number of bands of closely spaced lines that are associated with emission or absorption of radiation by molecules
line spectrum
a spectrum that consists of narrow , brightly colored , parallel lines on a dark background , emitted by a low-pressurized glowing gas
mass spectrum
a spectrum of charged particles , arranged in order of mass or mass-to-charge ratios
wide spectrum
A spectrum is a range of a particular type of thing.
broad-spectrum
effective against a wide variety of diseases or microorganisms
radio spectrum
the range of electromagnetic frequencies used in radio transmission , lying between 10 kilohertz and 300 000 megahertz
emission spectrum
the continuous spectrum or pattern of bright lines or bands seen when the electromagnetic radiation emitted by a substance is passed into a spectrometer . The spectrum is characteristic of the emitting substance and the type of excitation to which it is subjected
frequency spectrum
The frequency spectrum of an electrical signal is the distribution of the amplitudes and phases of each frequency component against frequency.
political spectrum
A spectrum is a range of a particular type of thing.
spectrum analyser
an instrument that splits an input waveform into its frequency components, which are then displayed
spectrum analysis
the analysis of a spectrum to determine the properties of its source , such as the analysis of the emission spectrum of a substance to determine the electron distribution in its molecules
visible spectrum
the range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation that is normally visible , from 380 to 760 nm
absorption spectrum
the characteristic pattern of dark lines or bands that occurs when electromagnetic radiation is passed through an absorbing medium into a spectroscope . An equivalent pattern occurs as coloured lines or bands in the emission spectrum of that medium
continuous spectrum
a spectrum that contains or appears to contain all wavelengths but not spectrum lines over a wide portion of its range . The emission spectrum of incandescent solids is continuous ; bremsstrahlung spectra consisting of a large number of lines may appear continuous
on the spectrum
affected by autism , which has a wide range of conditions present in affected individuals to a varying degree
electromagnetic spectrum
the complete range of electromagnetic radiation from the longest radio waves ( wavelength 10 5 metres ) to the shortest gamma radiation (wavelength 10 –13 metre)
autistic-spectrum disorder
any developmental condition within the spectrum of autism , such as Asperger syndrome
ASD
autistic-spectrum disorder
Chinese translation of 'spectrum'
spectrum
(ˈspɛktrəm)
Word forms:plspectra (ˈspɛktrə)
n(c)
(of colours, radio waves) 谱(譜) (pǔ)
[of opinion, emotion etc]范(範)围(圍) (fànwéi)
(noun)
Definition
a range or scale of anything such as opinions or emotions