SPECTRUM (spectra)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: spectra   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does spectrum mean? 

• SPECTRUM (noun)
  The noun SPECTRUM has 2 senses:

1. an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave

2. a broad range of related objects or values or qualities or ideas or activities

  Familiarity information: SPECTRUM used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SPECTRUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An ordered array of the components of an emission or wave

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural phenomena

Hypernyms ("spectrum" is a kind of...):

array (an orderly arrangement)

Meronyms (parts of "spectrum"):

spectrum line (an isolated component of a spectrum formed by radiation at a uniform frequency)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "spectrum"):

absorption spectrum (the spectrum of electromagnetic radiation that has passed through a medium that absorbed radiation of certain wavelengths)

action spectrum (the efficiency with which electromagnetic radiation produces a photochemical reaction plotted as a function of the wavelength of the radiation)

atomic spectrum ((physics) a spectrum of radiation caused by electron transitions within an atom; the series of spectrum lines is characteristic of the element)

electromagnetic spectrum (the entire frequency range of electromagnetic waves)

emission spectrum (spectrum of electromagnetic radiation emitted by a self-luminous source)

infrared spectrum (the spectrum of infrared radiation)

line spectrum (a spectrum in which energy is concentrated at particular wavelengths; produced by excited atoms and ions as they fall back to a lower energy level)

mass spectrum (a distribution of ions as shown by a mass spectrograph or a mass spectrometer)

microwave spectrum (the part of the electromagnetic spectrum corresponding to microwaves)

radio-frequency spectrum; radio spectrum (the entire spectrum of electromagnetic frequencies used for communications; includes frequencies used for radio and radar and television)

acoustic spectrum; sound spectrum (the distribution of energy as a function of frequency for a particular sound source)

ultraviolet spectrum (the spectrum of ultraviolet radiation)

color spectrum; visible spectrum (the distribution of colors produced when light is dispersed by a prism)

Derivation:

spectral (of or relating to a spectrum)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A broad range of related objects or values or qualities or ideas or activities

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("spectrum" is a kind of...):

ambit; compass; orbit; range; reach; scope (an area in which something acts or operates or has power or control:)

Derivation:

spectral (of or relating to a spectrum)

 Context examples 

The trihydrate form of ampicillin, a broad-spectrum semisynthetic derivative of aminopenicillin.

(Ampicillin Trihydrate, NCI Thesaurus)

A naphthydridine derivative of the broad spectrum, semisynthetic ampicillin with antibacterial activity.

(Apalcillin, NCI Thesaurus)

The sodium salt form of ampicillin, a broad-spectrum semisynthetic derivative of aminopenicillin.

(Ampicillin Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

The sodium salt form of a broad-spectrum, semisynthetic aminopenicillin antibiotic with bactericidal activity.

(Amoxicillin Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

He discovered that they changed colors to the point that they could be identified with an analysis of the visible spectrum.

(Table Salt Compound Spotted on Europa, NASA)

The sodium salt of a naphthydridine derivative of the broad spectrum, semisynthetic ampicillin with antibacterial activity.

(Apalcillin Sodium, NCI Thesaurus)

Also called: Autistic spectrum disorder (ASD), Pervasive developmental disorder (PDD)

(Autism, NIH: National Institute of Child Health and Human Development)

A broad spectrum aminoglycoside antibiotic derived from Streptomyces fradiae with antibacterial activity.

(Neomycin, NCI Thesaurus)

A synthetic, broad-spectrum fluoroquinolone with antibacterial activity.

(Norfloxacin, NCI Thesaurus)

A spectrum of malignant mesenchymal neoplasms arising from the soft tissues.

(Myxofibrosarcoma, NCI Thesaurus)