TERMIUM Plus®

From: Translation Bureau

On social media

Consult the Government of Canada’s terminology data bank.

LUMINOSITY [3 records]

Filter results by subject field Alphabetical list of terms

Filter results by subject field

Alphabetical list of terms

Record 1 2004-06-28

English

Subject field(s)
  • Optics
  • Photography
  • Inks and Colour Reproduction (Graphic Arts)
  • Computer Graphics
OBS

One of the three properties of a color (the other two being saturation and hue).

CONT

Darkness can be thought of as the black content of a color. It is this characteristic which is referred to by the use of such descriptive modifiers as "prussian" blue and "forest" green.

Key term(s)
  • luminosity

French

Domaine(s)
  • Optique
  • Photographie
  • Encres et couleurs (Industrie graphique)
  • Infographie
DEF

L'une des trois caractéristiques d'une couleur (les deux autres étant la teinte et la pureté). Cette caractéristique exprime la quantité de lumière reçue qui est d'autant plus faible que la couleur contient du noir.

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Óptica
  • Fotografía
  • Tintas y colores (Artes gráficas)
  • Gráficos de computadora
DEF

Cantidad de luz u oscuridad presente en determinado color.

Save record 1

Record 2 1994-06-01

English

Subject field(s)
  • The Stars (Astronomy)
DEF

The total radiative output of a star.

CONT

The luminosity of stars is in theory dependent on mass if their chemical composition is similar. It has been found that with the notable exception of highly evolved stars the mass-luminosity relation is obeyed approximately.

OBS

"brightness" is often used to refer to "luminosity" but is a more general term which does not correspond exactly to the notion of luminosity.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Étoiles (Astronomie)
DEF

Puissance totale rayonnée par un astre, intégré sur tout le spectre électromagnétique et dans toutes les directions.

CONT

Une relation très intéressante entre la masse des étoiles et leurs luminosité absolue a été mise en évidence par O. Struve. Si l'on porte en abscisse le logarithme de la masse et en ordonnée la magnitude absolue, les points représentatifs des étoiles se placent en majorité sur une droite : la luminosité d'une étoile est proportionnelle à sa masse.

Spanish

Save record 2

Record 3 1993-11-25

English

Subject field(s)
  • Clinical Psychology
  • Human Behaviour
DEF

The psychological dimension of light that corresponds to the amplitude of the light wave.

OBS

"Brightness" is the preferred term in the United States. Do not confuse with "luminance" (FR:luminance).

French

Domaine(s)
  • Psychologie clinique
  • Comportement humain
DEF

Dimension perceptive correspondant à la luminance.

OBS

[Le terme «brillance» a été] remplacé aujourd'hui dans son acception subjective par «luminosité».

OBS

H. Piéron avait proposé le terme de «phanie», qui n'a pas été retenu par la Commission internationale de l'éclairage, ou C.I.E.

Spanish

Save record 3

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2026
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Display options

Change the order of display of the official languages of Canada
Option to display the non-official languages (Spanish or Portuguese)
Display definitions, contexts, etc., on records

Features

GCtranslate (available on the Government of Canada network only)

Use this artificial intelligence prototype to translate Government of Canada content up to and including Protected B. Available to employees of selected departments and agencies only.

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: