Diaphanous
/daɪˈæfənəs/
adjectiveC2
Definition
Diaphanous means very thin and light, so much that you can almost see through it. It is often used to describe fabrics like silk or curtains that are soft and delicate. The word can also describe things that seem clear or almost invisible because they are so light.
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See It in Action
Describing very thin, light, and almost transparent material
- •She wore a diaphanous scarf that fluttered in the breeze.
- •The diaphanous curtains let the morning light gently fill the room.
- •The dancer's costume was made of diaphanous fabric that moved like water.
Used metaphorically to describe something delicate or light in appearance or feeling
- •The morning mist had a diaphanous quality, soft and almost invisible.
- •His voice had a diaphanous tone, barely there but very beautiful.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "diaphanous" like "thin" or "see-through," but much more delicate and soft—like a very fine cloth, not just paper
- ✓Picture a soft, light curtain gently moving in the wind, letting sunlight pass through it softly
- ✓It's the feeling of wearing a very light summer dress that feels almost like air on your skin
- ✓Sounds like "die-AF-uh-nus" → imagine a butterfly's thin wing that is almost invisible in the sunlight
- ✓Think of fairy-tale dresses or clouds that look soft and light, almost floating and transparent
- ✓NOT like "opaque" (which means you cannot see through), diaphanous means you CAN see through it easily
- ✓NOT like "thick" or "heavy" fabrics, diaphanous is the opposite—very light and delicate
- ✓NOT like "transparent" (which is fully clear), diaphanous is softly see-through, not perfectly clear
Try Other Words
- •Sheer: very thin and transparent (Use when describing fabrics or materials that are clear and light)
- •Transparent: completely clear, you can see through (Use when something is fully clear, like glass)
- •Gossamer: extremely light and delicate (Use in poetic or literary contexts to describe something very fine and soft)
- •Fine: very thin or small (Use for delicate textures but less about transparency)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: from Greek "dia-" (through) + "phanēs" (visible, to show) → meaning "showing through"
- •Etymology: From Greek "diaphanēs," meaning transparent or translucent (light passes through)
- •Historical development: Entered English in the late 1500s describing light, translucent materials like thin cloth
- •Modern usage: Mostly used in literature or formal descriptions for very light, delicate, and almost transparent things, often fabric or natural phenomena
Reflect & Connect
•How can the idea of something being diaphanous help you describe feelings or moods, not just physical things?
•Can you think of objects or clothes you have seen that are diaphanous? How did they make you feel?
Fill in the blanks
1.The diaphanous fabric ___ the sunlight softly, making the room bright but not harsh.
2.She chose a diaphanous dress because it was ___ and moved gently in the wind.
3.Unlike thick curtains, diaphanous curtains are ___ and let light pass through easily.
4.The morning fog had a diaphanous quality, appearing ___ and delicate.
5.When the breeze blew, the diaphanous scarf ___ lightly around her neck.
6.Diaphanous materials are often made from silk or ___ fibers to keep them light.
7.The artist used diaphanous colors in the painting to create a ___ effect of lightness and softness.