actinic

English

Etymology

From Ancient Greek ἀκτίς, ἀκτῖν- (aktís, aktîn-, “ray”) +‎ -ic.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ækˈtɪn ɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɪnɪk

• Audio (Southern England)

  (file)

Adjective

actinic (not comparable)

1. Related to radiation; used most often in reference to light, especially in the ultraviolet range.
2. (by extension) Harsh and bright.
   • 1999, Jody Lynn Nye, School of Light:

     He bounded over cresting waves that shone in the actinic glare.

3. (medicine) Caused by extensive exposure to ultraviolet light.

   In medicine, actinic keratoses usually occur in sundamaged skin and exhibit hyperkeratosis.

4. (chemistry, photography) Of or relating to actinism, the range of photochemical effects produced by exposure to EM radiation, particularly sunlight.
   • 1883, Abraham Cowley Malley, Micro-photography: Including a Description of the Wet Collodion and Gelatino-Bromide Processes, page 32:

     It should be borne in mind that the actinic power of the sun is subject to considerable variations, due to its elevation above the horizon.

   • 1943 May and June, Chas. S. Lake, “Some Continental Travel Experiences (1922-1939)—III”, in Railway Magazine, page 141:

     I got my picture, and it turned out quite a good one, despite the rather poor light which at that time of day, 7 p.m., was lacking in actinic value.

5. Composed of actin.

Derived terms

• actinically
• actinic flux
• diactinic
• inactinic
• isoactinic
• nonactinic
• photoactinic
• unactinic

 

Translations

relating to actinism

• Dutch: actinisch (nl)
• Irish: achtanach
• Polish: aktyniczny
• Portuguese: actínico
• Spanish: actínico (es)

References

• “actinic”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.

Anagrams

• cantici

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from French actinique.

Adjective

actinic m or n (feminine singular actinică, masculine plural actinici, feminine and neuter plural actinice)

1. actinic

Declension

Declension of actinic

		singular			plural
		masculine	neuter	feminine	masculine	neuter	feminine
nominative/ accusative	indefinite	actinic		actinică	actinici	actinice
	definite	actinicul		actinica	actinicii	actinicele
genitive/ dative	indefinite	actinic		actinice	actinici	actinice
	definite	actinicului		actinicei	actinicilor	actinicelor