infrared radiation

Meaning

1. 1noununcountablephysics

   Invisible electromagnetic waves with a longer wavelength than red light, given off by warm objects and felt as heat.

   Grammar: No plural for the general phenomenon: the lamp emits infrared radiation.

   Patterns

   • emit infrared radiation
   • detect infrared radiation

   Warm bodies give off infrared radiation that night-vision cameras can detect.

   The remote control sends infrared radiation to the television.

   Greenhouse gases trap infrared radiation that would otherwise escape into space.

Common combinations

emit infrared radiation

All warm objects emit infrared radiation.

absorb infrared radiation

Carbon dioxide can absorb infrared radiation from the Earth.

detect infrared radiation

The sensor detects infrared radiation from moving people.

infrared radiation sensor

An infrared radiation sensor opens the automatic door.

exposure to infrared radiation

Long exposure to infrared radiation can burn the eyes of glassblowers.

Synonyms and how they differ

infrared

Infrared is the common shortened form and works as noun or adjective, whereas infrared radiation is the full scientific noun.

heat radiation

Heat radiation is the casual term, though not all heat radiation is infrared.

thermal radiation

Thermal radiation is a broader physics term for radiation given off by any warm object.

Opposites

Word family

infrared adjective

relating to infrared waves

radiate verb

to send out energy or heat

radiation noun

energy sent out as waves or particles

radiator noun

a device that gives off heat

Commonly confused: infrared radiation or ultraviolet radiation?

Practice

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