Other forms: radiances
Radiance is a warm steady shining outward. The radiance of the fire, a soft radiance, radiance in her face.
It describes light that seems to come from within something rather than fall on it, which is why it is used of faces, fires and skin. It is a favourite word in cosmetics advertising for exactly that reason. In physics, radiance is a precise measure of light leaving a surface in a given direction. Note radiant, the adjective — a radiant smile — and radiate, meaning to send out in all directions.
1nounradianceA warm steady shining outward.
“There was a radiance from the fire that reached the far wall.”
2nounglowingA glowing look of health or happiness.
“The radiance lasted about a week after she came back.”
radiance is a shining outward.
Latin
radiāns
Middle English
radyant
English
radiant
English, today
radiance
Built from
From radiant + -ance. radiant comes from Middle English radyant, from Latin radiāns, radiantis, present participle of radiō (“to emit rays or beams”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA