spectrum

n. range of colors (as seen in a rainbow); broad range of connected ideas or events

This article deals with the general meaning of "spectrum" and the history of its use. For other meanings and specific uses, see Spectrum (disambiguation).A spectrum (plural spectra) is a condition that is not limited to a specific set of values but can vary infinitely within a continuum. The word saw its first scientific use within the field of optics to describe the rainbow of colors in visible light when separated using a prism; it has since been applied by analogy to many fields. Thus one might talk about the spectrum of political opinion, or the spectrum of activity of a drug, or the autistic spectrum. In these uses, values within a spectrum are not necessarily precisely defined numbers as in optics; exact values within the spectrum are not precisely quantifiable. Such use implies a broad range of conditions or behaviors grouped together and studied under a single title for ease of discussion.
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Noun
1. an ordered array of the components of an emission or wave
(hypernym) array
(hyponym) absorption spectrum
(part-meronym) spectrum line
2. broad range of related values or qualities or ideas or activities
(hypernym) scope, range, reach, orbit, compass, ambit

n. spectrum, prism

(n.)
The several colored and other rays of which light is composed, separated by the refraction of a prism or other means, and observed or studied either as spread out on a screen, by direct vision, by photography, or otherwise. See Illust. of Light, and Spectroscope.
  

(n.)
An apparition; a specter.
  

(n.)
A luminous appearance, or an image seen after the eye has been exposed to an intense light or a strongly illuminated object. When the object is colored, the image appears of the complementary color, as a green image seen after viewing a red wafer lying on white paper. Called also ocular spectrum.