Meaning & use
semi-translucent
Last updated
Meaning
adjectivenot comparable
Letting some light pass through but not allowing clear images to be seen.
Grammar: Describes a quality of a material; it is not used with 'more' or 'most'.
Patterns
- semi-translucent material
- semi-translucent glass
The bathroom window is made of semi-translucent glass, so you can see shapes but not details.
She chose a semi-translucent fabric for the curtains to soften the sunlight.
The plastic bottle is semi-translucent, which makes it easy to check the liquid level.
Common combinations
- semi-translucent glass
- The artist used semi-translucent glass to create a glowing effect.
- semi-translucent material
- This semi-translucent material is often used in lampshades.
- semi-translucent plastic
- The semi-translucent plastic container lets you see how much is left.
- semi-translucent paper
- The invitation was printed on semi-translucent paper.
- semi-translucent finish
- The paint has a semi-translucent finish that lets the wood grain show.
Synonyms and how they differ
- translucent
- Translucent means light passes through clearly, often with less blurring than semi-translucent.
- frosted
- Frosted describes a surface that is made semi-translucent by a rough texture, often used for glass.
- opaque
- Opaque is the opposite: no light passes through at all.
Opposites
Word family
- translucent adjective
- Allowing light to pass through, often with a clear view.
- translucence noun
- The quality of being translucent.
- semi-transparency noun
- The state of being partly transparent.
Commonly confused: semi-translucent or semi-transparent? semi-translucent or opaque?
semi-translucent vs semi-transparent
Semi-transparent means partly clear, so you can see through it somewhat; semi-translucent means light passes through but images are blurred.
semi-translucent vs opaque
Opaque means no light passes through, while semi-translucent means some light does.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'semi-translucent' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Semi-translucent means some light passes through but images are not clear. Option C fits this. Option A suggests full clarity (transparent), B suggests no light (opaque), and D contradicts the meaning.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “semi-translucent”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.