It's Merriam-Webster's Word of the Day for February 27th.

Today's word is translucent, spelled TRS L-U-C-E-N-T. Translus-E-T. Translucent is an adjective.

It describes something that is not completely clear or transparent, but is clear enough to allow light to pass through.

Here's the word used in a sentence from the Portland Press Herald of Maine.

What you want to buy are dry scallops, which have never been soaked or treated.

Dry scallops are visually distinguishable from their wet counterparts.

Their cylindrical edges are more clearly defined, while the firm meat has a

moist sheen and looks almost translucent.

Let's shine a light on the word translucent and a couple of its relatives.

Look closely and you will see the same group of three letters in translucent, elucidate, and

lucid, illuminating the family relationship between the three words.

All descend from the Latin word leukare, meaning to shine.

Translucane is from leukre plus Trans, which means through. Hence something

translucent allows light to pass through. To elucidate something is to

metaphorically shine a light on it by explaining it clearly.

A lucid person is able to think clearly and lucid writing is easy to understand.

We hope this light explainer helps clarify things.

With your word of the day, I'm Peter Sankoloski.

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