specular

Hello, you have come here looking for the meaning of the word specular. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word specular, but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say specular in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word specular you have here. The definition of the word specular will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition ofspecular, as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.

English

Etymology

From Latin speculāris, from speculum; and in some senses from speculārī (to watch, observe). Some later senses via French spéculaire.

Pronunciation

Adjective

specular (comparative more specular, superlative most specular)

  1. Pertaining to mirrors; mirror-like, reflective.
    • 1969, Vladimir Nabokov, Ada or Ardor, Penguin, published 2011, page 14:
      a perfect likeness would rather suggest a specular, and hence speculatory, phenomenon [...].
  2. (medicine) Of or relating to a speculum; conducted with the aid of a speculum.
    a specular examination
  3. Assisting sight, like a lens etc.
    • 1708, John Philips, Cyder:
      Thy specular orb / Apply to well-dissected kernels; lo! / In each observe the slender threads / Of first-beginning trees.
  4. (poetic) Offering an expansive view; picturesque.

Derived terms

Anagrams