Lustres

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. A measurement of brightness or illumination, often used in lighting contexts
2. A term referring to the sheen or glossiness of a surface, particularly in artistic descriptions
3. An expression denoting the vibrancy and vividness in colors or materials, particularly in fine art and design

Etymology: "Lustres" is the plural of "lustre," which in English means a soft sheen or gloss on a surface, or a chandelier with many glass pendants. The plural most often refers to the chandeliers, whose hanging crystals catch and scatter light. The "measurement of brightness" sense in the given meaning isn't standard for this word, which describes the quality of light reflected from a surface rather than a unit of measure. The noun came into English from Old French "lustre," which took it from Italian "lustro," meaning brightness. Those forms trace back to Latin "lustrare," "to illuminate." Latin "lustrum," which gave English the rare word for a five-year period, is related and was originally tied to ceremonies of purification.

Synonyms: shine, gloss, sheen, brilliance, luster

Antonyms: dullness, matteness, opacity, tarnish, fadedness