crepuscular ray
"Crepuscular rays" are visually striking beams of sunlight often seen during twilight, named after the Latin word for twilight, 'crepusculum'.
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Definition
C1Atmospheric Science
(technical, academic)A beam of sunlight that appears to radiate from the horizon during twilight, caused by scattering of light by atmospheric particles.
Example
- Crepuscular rays are most visible during dawn and dusk when the sun is below the horizon.
C1Optics
(technical, academic)Sunlight that streams through gaps in clouds or between objects, creating visible shafts of light and shadow in the sky.
Example
- The dramatic crepuscular rays created a breathtaking scene as the sun set behind the mountains.
Similar
Terms that have similar or relatively close meanings to "crepuscular ray":