spectrum

[spek-truh m] /ˈspɛk trəm/

noun, plural spectra

[spek-truh] /ˈspɛk trə/ (Show IPA), spectrums.

Physics.

an array of entities, as light waves or particles, ordered in accordance with the magnitudes of a common physical property, as wavelength or mass: often the band of colors produced when sunlight is passed through a prism, comprising red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
this band or series of colors together with extensions at the ends that are not visible to the eye, but that can be studied by means of photography, heat effects, etc., and that are produced by the dispersion of radiant energy other than ordinary light rays.
Compare band spectrum, electromagnetic spectrum, mass spectrum.

a broad range of varied but related ideas or objects, the individual features of which tend to overlap so as to form a continuous series or sequence:

the spectrum of political beliefs.

Origin

1605-15; < Latin: appearance, form, equivalent to spec(ere) to look, regard + -trum instrumental noun suffix

Examples from the web for spectrum

Political cookbooks come from all sides of the spectrum.
Rap and yelling make up the majority of air-play and attention for a wide age-spectrum.
Yet, recently, small groups who reflect extreme minority opinions across the political spectrum have turned to burning books.
And this is something that is true across the ideological spectrum.
It is based on the spectrum of notes that arise naturally from a vibrating string.
There are fans for all of these artists across the demographic spectrum.
He was out to expose the entire spectrum of current radical thought.
It's become gospel, because of the danger of fetal alcohol spectrum disorder.
All of the spectral lines are thus shifted towards the long wavelength part of the spectrum, or to the red end of the spectrum.
Your sister seems to be able to easily move along that spectrum.

British Dictionary definitions for spectrum

spectrum

/ˈspɛktrəm/

noun (pl) -tra (-trə)

the distribution of colours produced when white light is dispersed by a prism or diffraction grating. There is a continuous change in wavelength from red, the longest wavelength, to violet, the shortest. Seven colours are usually distinguished: violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red

the whole range of electromagnetic radiation with respect to its wavelength or frequency

any particular distribution of electromagnetic radiation often showing lines or bands characteristic of the substance emitting the radiation or absorbing it See also absorption spectrum, emission spectrum

any similar distribution or record of the energies, velocities, masses, etc, of atoms, ions, electrons, etc: a mass spectrum

any range or scale, as of capabilities, emotions, or moods

another name for an afterimage

Word Origin

C17: from Latin: appearance, image, from spectāre to observe, from specere to look at

Word Origin and History for spectrum

1610s, "apparition, specter," from Latin spectrum "appearance, image, apparition," from specere "to look at, view" (see scope (n.1)). Meaning "band of colors formed from a beam of light" first recorded 1670s.

spectrum in Medicine

spectrum spec·trum (spěk'trəm)
n. pl. spec·trums or spec·tra (-trə)

The distribution of a characteristic of a physical system or phenomenon, especially the distribution of energy emitted by a radiant source arranged in order of wavelengths.
The color image presented when white light is resolved into its constituent colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet.
The plot of intensity as opposed to wavelength of light emitted or absorbed by a substance, usually characteristic of the substance and used in qualitative and quantitative analysis.
The distribution of atomic or subatomic particles in a system, as in a magnetically resolved molecular beam, arranged in order of masses.
The group of pathogenic organisms against which an antibiotic or other antibacterial agent is effective.

spectrum in Science

spectrum

(spěk'trəm)
Plural spectra (spěk'trə) or spectrums

A range over which some measurable property of a physical phenomenon, such as the frequency of sound or electromagnetic radiation, or the mass of specific kinds of particles, can vary. For example, the spectrum of visible light is the range of electromagnetic radiation with frequencies between between 4.7 × 10¹⁴ and 7.5 × 10¹⁴ hertz.
The observed distribution of a phenomenon across a range of measurement. See more at atomic spectrum, spectroscopy.

spectrum in Culture

spectrum definition

The range of wavelengths characteristic of a specific type of radiation.

Note: The spectrum making up visible light contains light in the colors violet, indigo, blue, green, yellow, orange, and red, with violet having the shortest wavelength and highest frequency, and red having the longest wavelength and lowest frequency.

spectrum in Technology

ZX Spectrum