See Also: spectrum(dictionary)
spectrum(encyclopedia)
Spectrum(medicine)
spectrum(dictionary)
spectrum analysis(medicine)
thermal spectrum(medicine)
toxin spectrum(medicine)
ultraviolet spectrum(medicine)
visible spectrum(medicine)
wide spectrum(medicine)

spectrum (iou)



spectrum noun. , -trums. E17.
[Latin = image of a thing, apparition: see SPECTRE.]
An apparition, a spectre. arch. E17.
An image. rare. L17.
a. The coloured band into which a beam of light is split by means of a prism or diffraction grating. Also, such a band containing bright or dark lines corresponding to the frequencies emitted or absorbed, and characteristic of the light source; the pattern of absorption or emission of any electromagnetic radiation over a range of wavelengths characteristic of a body or substance. L17.
RAMAN spectrum. visible spectrum: see VISIBLE adjective.
b. (Any part of) the entire range of wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation, from the longest radio waves to the shortest gamma rays. L19.
ELECTROMAGNETIC spectrum.
c. An actual or notional arrangement of the component parts of any phenomenon according to frequency, energy, mass, etc. L19.
mass spectrum: see MASS noun2 & adjective. power spectrum: see POWER noun.
d. fig. The entire or a wide range of something arranged by degree, quality, etc. M20.
A. C. Clarke A whole spectrum of shifting overtones covering the range of hearing. Business Tokyo Tastings..covering almost the entire spectrum of quality wines.
A visual after-image. Now rare or obsolete. L18.
Comb.: spectrum analyser an instrument which analyses a system of oscillations into its spectral components; spectrum analysis the determination of the spectral components of a system of oscillations.