spectroscopic
|spec-tro-scop-ic|
🇺🇸
/ˌspɛktrəˈskɑːpɪk/
🇬🇧
/ˌspɛktrəˈskɒpɪk/
observed/analysed by spectrum
Etymology
'spectroscopic' originates from Neo-Latin/Greek elements: from Latin 'spectrum' (from Latin 'specere' meaning 'to look' or 'appearance') combined with Greek-derived suffix from 'skopein' meaning 'to look' ('-scopic' relating to viewing).
'spectroscopic' developed in the 19th century from nouns such as 'spectrum' and the instrument name 'spectroscope' (coined in the early 19th century); the related noun 'spectroscopy' and adjectival forms 'spectroscopic' emerged as scientific usage spread.
Initially it meant 'of or pertaining to the spectroscope or the observation of spectra'; over time it has retained that core sense and now broadly means 'relating to or obtained by spectroscopy.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
relating to or using spectroscopy or a spectroscope; concerned with the study or measurement of spectra (bands of electromagnetic radiation) produced by substances or objects.
The team performed spectroscopic measurements to determine the chemical composition of the sample.
Synonyms
Adjective 2
detectable or identified only by spectroscopic methods (not by direct imaging or other techniques) — often used in astronomy and chemistry (e.g., spectroscopic binary).
The star was a spectroscopic binary: its double nature was revealed only through shifts in its spectral lines.
Synonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/23 14:38