chatoyancy

noun

cha·​toy·​an·​cy shə-ˈtȯi-ən(t)-sē How to pronounce chatoyancy (audio)
: the quality or state of being chatoyant

Examples of chatoyancy in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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This results in a high-gloss finish that accentuates the chatoyancy, or shimmering sheen, that’s found in some wood, including some mahogany, the wood often used to make pie-crust tables. Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2021

Word History

First Known Use

1894, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of chatoyancy was in 1894

Dictionary Entries Near chatoyancy

Cite this Entry

“Chatoyancy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/chatoyancy. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

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