Diffraction

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Diffraction \Dif*frac"tion\, n. [Cf. F. diffraction.] (Opt.)
     The deflection and decomposition of light in passing by the
     edges of opaque bodies or through narrow slits, causing the
     appearance of parallel bands or fringes of prismatic colors,
     as by the action of a grating of fine lines or bars.
     [1913 Webster]


  
           Remarked by Grimaldi (1665), and referred by him to a
           property of light which he called diffraction.
                                                    --Whewell.
     [1913 Webster]
  
     {Diffraction grating}. (Optics) See under {Grating}.
  
     {Diffraction spectrum}. (Optics) See under {Spectrum}.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  diffraction
       n : when light passes sharp edges or goes through narrow slits
           the rays are deflected and produce fringes of light and
           dark bands

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  76 Moby Thesaurus words for "diffraction":
     amplitude, antinode, attenuation, broadcast, broadcasting,
     circumfusion, crest, de Broglie wave, deflection, deflexure,
     diffusion, dilution, dispensation, dispersal, dispersion,
     dissemination, dissipation, distortion, distribution, divergence,
     electromagnetic radiation, electromagnetic wave, evaporation,
     expansion, flection, flexure, fragmentation, frequency,
     frequency band, frequency spectrum, guided wave, in phase,
     interference, light, longitudinal wave, mechanical wave, node,
     out of phase, peppering, period, periodic wave, propagation,
     publication, radiation, radio wave, ray, refraction, reinforcement,
     resonance, resonance frequency, scatter, scattering, scatterment,
     seismic wave, shock wave, shotgun pattern, skewness, sound wave,
     sowing, spattering, splay, spread, spreading, sprinkling, strewing,
     surface wave, tidal wave, torsion, transverse wave, trough,
     volatilization, wave, wave equation, wave motion, wave number,
     wavelength