TERMIUM Plus®
The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.
CHROMATIC DISPERSION [10 records]
Record 1 - internal organization data 2012-07-09
Record 1, English
Record 1, Subject field(s)
- Radio Interference
- Photoelectricity and Electron Optics
- Electrical Engineering
- Optical Telecommunications
Record 1, Main entry term, English
- chromatic dispersion
1, record 1, English, chromatic%20dispersion
correct
Record 1, Abbreviations, English
Record 1, Synonyms, English
- chromatic scatter 2, record 1, English, chromatic%20scatter
Record 1, Textual support, English
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Dispersion or distortion of a pulse in an optical waveguide due to differences in wave velocity caused by variations in the refractive indices for different portions of the guide. 3, record 1, English, - chromatic%20dispersion
Record 1, French
Record 1, Domaine(s)
- Perturbations radio
- Photo-électricité et optique électronique
- Électrotechnique
- Télécommunications optiques
Record 1, Main entry term, French
- dispersion chromatique
1, record 1, French, dispersion%20chromatique
correct, see observation, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, French
Record 1, Synonyms, French
Record 1, Textual support, French
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Élargissement d'une impulsion de lumière non absolument monochromatique transmise par une fibre optique monomode dû aux différences de temps de propagation des composantes spectrales de l'impulsion. 2, record 1, French, - dispersion%20chromatique
Record number: 1, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Éviter d'utiliser le terme dispersion chromatique pour décrire la relation qui existe entre l'indice de réfraction et la longueur d'onde. 3, record 1, French, - dispersion%20chromatique
Record 1, Spanish
Record 1, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Perturbaciones radioeléctricas
- Fotoelectricidad y óptica electrónica
- Electrotecnia
- Telecomunicaciones ópticas
Record 1, Main entry term, Spanish
- dispersión cromática
1, record 1, Spanish, dispersi%C3%B3n%20crom%C3%A1tica
correct, feminine noun
Record 1, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 1, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 1, Textual support, Spanish
Record 2 - internal organization data 2012-04-17
Record 2, English
Record 2, Subject field(s)
- Optical Telecommunications
- Photoelectricity and Electron Optics
Record 2, Main entry term, English
- normalized frequency
1, record 2, English, normalized%20frequency
correct
Record 2, Abbreviations, English
Record 2, Synonyms, English
- V number 1, record 2, English, V%20number
correct
Record 2, Textual support, English
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Normalized frequency(V Number). A mathematical expression characterizing a fiber in terms of its essential data(core diameter, numerical aperture) and the wavelength. Important parameters such as number of modes, mode field diameter, cutoff wavelength, propagation constant and chromatic dispersion can be calculated using V number. 1, record 2, English, - normalized%20frequency
Record 2, French
Record 2, Domaine(s)
- Télécommunications optiques
- Photo-électricité et optique électronique
Record 2, Main entry term, French
- fréquence normalisée
1, record 2, French, fr%C3%A9quence%20normalis%C3%A9e
correct, feminine noun
Record 2, Abbreviations, French
Record 2, Synonyms, French
- V 2, record 2, French, V
correct
Record 2, Textual support, French
Record number: 2, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Paramètre servant à déterminer le nombre moyen de modes de propagation pouvant coexister dans une fibre optique. 2, record 2, French, - fr%C3%A9quence%20normalis%C3%A9e
Record 2, Spanish
Record 2, Textual support, Spanish
Record 3 - internal organization data 2004-03-12
Record 3, English
Record 3, Subject field(s)
- Optics
Record 3, Main entry term, English
- chromatic aberration
1, record 3, English, chromatic%20aberration
correct
Record 3, Abbreviations, English
Record 3, Synonyms, English
Record 3, Textual support, English
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 DEF
The lens aberration resulting from the normal increase in refractive index of all common materials toward the blue end of the spectrum. 2, record 3, English, - chromatic%20aberration
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Chromatic aberration results from material dispersion. Because different colors of light refract by different amounts, an image point formed by light of one color does not coincide with the corresponding image point formed by light of a different color. This is not a geometrical aberration. 3, record 3, English, - chromatic%20aberration
Record 3, French
Record 3, Domaine(s)
- Optique
Record 3, Main entry term, French
- aberration chromatique
1, record 3, French, aberration%20chromatique
correct, feminine noun
Record 3, Abbreviations, French
Record 3, Synonyms, French
Record 3, Textual support, French
Record number: 3, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Lorsque vous observez le passage de la lumière blanche à travers un prisme, vous pouvez remarquer qu'elle se décompose en différentes couleurs. La lumière blanche est en réalité un mélange de toutes les couleurs, celles de l'arc en ciel. Or une lentille simple se comporte localement comme un prisme et a donc tendance à séparer les couleurs. L'image n'est alors nette que pour le bleu, que pour le vert ou que pour le rouge. C'est l'aberration chromatique. Afin de palier ce problème, qui rend donc les images floues, on adjoint plusieurs lentilles de nature différentes permettant ainsi de focaliser la plupart des couleurs en un même point. Si l'objectif possède deux lentilles, on parle de système achromatique et s'il en possède trois, de système apochromatique. 2, record 3, French, - aberration%20chromatique
Record 3, Spanish
Record 3, Textual support, Spanish
Record 4 - internal organization data 2004-02-10
Record 4, English
Record 4, Subject field(s)
- Photography
- Optical Glass
- Types of Glass
Record 4, Main entry term, English
- flint glass 1, record 4, English, flint%20glass
Record 4, Abbreviations, English
Record 4, Synonyms, English
Record 4, Textual support, English
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
[chromatic aberration could be reduced by combining a positive lens of a crown glass] with a negative lens of a flint glass(high refractive index and high dispersion). 2, record 4, English, - flint%20glass
Record 4, French
Record 4, Domaine(s)
- Photographie
- Verres d'optique
- Sortes de verre
Record 4, Main entry term, French
- verre flint
1, record 4, French, verre%20flint
masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, French
Record 4, Synonyms, French
- type de verre flint 1, record 4, French, type%20de%20verre%20flint
masculine noun
- flint 1, record 4, French, flint
masculine noun
- verre plombé 2, record 4, French, verre%20plomb%C3%A9
masculine noun
Record 4, Textual support, French
Record number: 4, Textual support number: 1 CONT
deux types de verre entrent dans la composition des lentilles: le crown, peu dispersif, le flint, très dispersif. 1, record 4, French, - verre%20flint
Record 4, Spanish
Record 4, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Fotografía
- Vidrios ópticos
- Tipos de vidrio
Record 4, Main entry term, Spanish
- vidrio plonado
1, record 4, Spanish, vidrio%20plonado
masculine noun
Record 4, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 4, Synonyms, Spanish
Record 4, Textual support, Spanish
Record 5 - internal organization data 2001-12-08
Record 5, English
Record 5, Subject field(s)
- Photoelectricity and Electron Optics
- Optical Telecommunications
Record 5, Main entry term, English
- zero dispersion wavelength
1, record 5, English, zero%20dispersion%20wavelength
correct
Record 5, Abbreviations, English
Record 5, Synonyms, English
- zero-dispersion wavelength 1, record 5, English, zero%2Ddispersion%20wavelength
correct
Record 5, Textual support, English
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A wavelength for which the chromatic dispersion passes through zero. 2, record 5, English, - zero%20dispersion%20wavelength
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 OBS
cabling 3, record 5, English, - zero%20dispersion%20wavelength
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 2 OBS
optoelectronics 3, record 5, English, - zero%20dispersion%20wavelength
Record 5, French
Record 5, Domaine(s)
- Photo-électricité et optique électronique
- Télécommunications optiques
Record 5, Main entry term, French
- longueur d'onde de dispersion nulle
1, record 5, French, longueur%20d%27onde%20de%20dispersion%20nulle
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, French
Record 5, Synonyms, French
Record 5, Textual support, French
Record 5, Spanish
Record 5, Campo(s) temático(s)
- Fotoelectricidad y óptica electrónica
- Telecomunicaciones ópticas
Record 5, Main entry term, Spanish
- longitud de onda de dispersión cero
1, record 5, Spanish, longitud%20de%20onda%20de%20dispersi%C3%B3n%20cero
correct, feminine noun
Record 5, Abbreviations, Spanish
Record 5, Synonyms, Spanish
- longitud de onda con dispersión nula 1, record 5, Spanish, longitud%20de%20onda%20con%20dispersi%C3%B3n%20nula
feminine noun, Mexico
Record 5, Textual support, Spanish
Record number: 5, Textual support number: 1 DEF
Longitud de onda para la cual la dispersión cromática es igual a cero. 1, record 5, Spanish, - longitud%20de%20onda%20de%20dispersi%C3%B3n%20cero
Record 6 - internal organization data 1998-05-21
Record 6, English
Record 6, Subject field(s)
- Optical Glass
Record 6, Main entry term, English
- crown glass
1, record 6, English, crown%20glass
correct
Record 6, Abbreviations, English
Record 6, Synonyms, English
Record 6, Textual support, English
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
[chromatic aberration could be reduced by combining a positive lens of a crown glass(low refractive index and low dispersion) with a negative lens of a flint glass] 2, record 6, English, - crown%20glass
Record 6, French
Record 6, Domaine(s)
- Verres d'optique
Record 6, Main entry term, French
- verre en crown
1, record 6, French, verre%20en%20crown
correct, masculine noun
Record 6, Abbreviations, French
Record 6, Synonyms, French
Record 6, Textual support, French
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 DEF
En optique scientifique, verre de faible indice de réfraction et de constringence élevée. 2, record 6, French, - verre%20en%20crown
Record number: 6, Textual support number: 1 OBS
Source MVISI-F : Le nouveau dictionnaire de la vision par Michel Millodot, Médiacom Vision Éditeur, 1997. 3, record 6, French, - verre%20en%20crown
Record 6, Spanish
Record 6, Textual support, Spanish
Record 7 - internal organization data 1996-05-06
Record 7, English
Record 7, Subject field(s)
- Photoelectricity and Electron Optics
- Optical Telecommunications
Record 7, Main entry term, English
- on-off keying 1, record 7, English, on%2Doff%20keying
Record 7, Abbreviations, English
Record 7, Synonyms, English
Record 7, Textual support, English
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 CONT
Chromatic dispersion limitations, however, still exist for diret detection on-off keying systems, even if a modulation bandwidth-limited chirp-free optical signal source is used. 1, record 7, English, - on%2Doff%20keying
Record number: 7, Textual support number: 1 OBS
fiber optics 2, record 7, English, - on%2Doff%20keying
Record 7, French
Record 7, Domaine(s)
- Photo-électricité et optique électronique
- Télécommunications optiques
Record 7, Main entry term, French
- modulation de puissance numérique binaire
1, record 7, French, modulation%20de%20puissance%20num%C3%A9rique%20binaire
feminine noun
Record 7, Abbreviations, French
Record 7, Synonyms, French
Record 7, Textual support, French
Record 7, Spanish
Record 7, Textual support, Spanish
Record 8 - internal organization data 1990-05-17
Record 8, English
Record 8, Subject field(s)
- Computer Graphics
Record 8, Main entry term, English
- compensation grating
1, record 8, English, compensation%20grating
correct
Record 8, Abbreviations, English
Record 8, Synonyms, English
Record 8, Textual support, English
Record number: 8, Textual support number: 1 DEF
A grating that compensates for the component of the chromatic dispersion that results from recording the hologram with an off-axis reference beam. 1, record 8, English, - compensation%20grating
Record 8, French
Record 8, Domaine(s)
- Infographie
Record 8, Main entry term, French
- réseau de compensation
1, record 8, French, r%C3%A9seau%20de%20compensation
correct, masculine noun
Record 8, Abbreviations, French
Record 8, Synonyms, French
Record 8, Textual support, French
Record 8, Spanish
Record 8, Textual support, Spanish
Record 9 - internal organization data 1975-03-11
Record 9, English
Record 9, Subject field(s)
- Photography
- Optical Glass
- Types of Glass
Record 9, Main entry term, English
- high dispersion glass 1, record 9, English, high%20dispersion%20glass
Record 9, Abbreviations, English
Record 9, Synonyms, English
Record 9, Textual support, English
Record number: 9, Textual support number: 1 OBS
(...) chromatic aberration could be reduced by combining a positive lens of a crown glass(...) with a negative lens of a flint flass(high refractive index and high dispersion). 1, record 9, English, - high%20dispersion%20glass
Record 9, French
Record 9, Domaine(s)
- Photographie
- Verres d'optique
- Sortes de verre
Record 9, Main entry term, French
- verre très dispersif 1, record 9, French, verre%20tr%C3%A8s%20dispersif
Record 9, Abbreviations, French
Record 9, Synonyms, French
- type de verre très dispersif 1, record 9, French, type%20de%20verre%20tr%C3%A8s%20dispersif
Record 9, Textual support, French
Record number: 9, Textual support number: 1 OBS
deux types de verre entrent dans la composition des lentilles: le crown, peu dispersif, le flint, très dispersif. 1, record 9, French, - verre%20tr%C3%A8s%20dispersif
Record 9, Spanish
Record 9, Textual support, Spanish
Record 10 - internal organization data 1975-03-11
Record 10, English
Record 10, Subject field(s)
- Photography
- Optical Glass
- Types of Glass
Record 10, Main entry term, English
- low dispersion glass 1, record 10, English, low%20dispersion%20glass
Record 10, Abbreviations, English
Record 10, Synonyms, English
Record 10, Textual support, English
Record number: 10, Textual support number: 1 OBS
(...) chromatic aberration could be reduced by combining a positive lens of a crown glass(low refractive index and low dispersion) with a negative lens of a flint glass. 1, record 10, English, - low%20dispersion%20glass
Record 10, French
Record 10, Domaine(s)
- Photographie
- Verres d'optique
- Sortes de verre
Record 10, Main entry term, French
- verre peu dispersif 1, record 10, French, verre%20peu%20dispersif
Record 10, Abbreviations, French
Record 10, Synonyms, French
- type de verre peu dispersif 1, record 10, French, type%20de%20verre%20peu%20dispersif
Record 10, Textual support, French
Record number: 10, Textual support number: 1 OBS
deux types de verre entrent dans la composition des lentilles: le crown, peu dispersif, le flint, très dispersif. 1, record 10, French, - verre%20peu%20dispersif
Record 10, Spanish
Record 10, Textual support, Spanish
Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank
© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau
Features
Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.
Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.
Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.
- Date Modified: