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Subject:Re: luminous vs. light as adjectives From:Paul David Marvel <marvel -at- BRAHMS -dot- UDEL -dot- EDU> Date:Fri, 11 Feb 1994 10:56:37 -0500
_Language_
The _Larousse_ French-French dictionary gives three definitions for Lumineux:
1) That Which emits light
2) That which has to do with light
3) Of a great clarity
When translating you can use the following guidlines to chose the English
translation:
1) That which emits light is luminous--luminous flux.
2) That which doesn't emit light but has to do with light requires "light."
--light wave.
3) That which is of great clarity is illuminating--an illuminating
thought.
_Physics_
In the term "light wave," light is an adjective because it qualifies what
kind of wave you're talking about. There ae gravity waves (maybe),
electro-magnetic waves, etc. Physicists use "light" to specify
electro-magnetic radiation between certain wavelengths.
Paul D. Marvel
marvel -at- brahms -dot- udel -dot- edu
