Iridescence vs. Opalescent

Iridescencenoun

The condition or state of being iridescent; exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow; a prismatic play of color.

Opalescentadjective

Exhibiting a milky iridescence like that of an opal.

Iridescencenoun

Any shimmer of glittering and changeable colors.

Opalescentadjective

Reflecting a milky or pearly light from the interior; having an opaline play of colors.

Iridescencenoun

Exhibition of colors like those of the rainbow, especially a surface reflection which changes color with the angle at which the object is viewed; the quality or state of being iridescent; a prismatic play of color; as, the iridescence of mother-of-pearl. It is due to interference of light waves reflected from the front and back surfaces of a thin layer transpatrent or semitransparent film.

Opalescentadjective

having a play of lustrous rainbow-like colors;

‘an iridescent oil slick’; ‘nacreous (or pearlescent) clouds looking like mother-of-pearl’; ‘a milky opalescent (or opaline) luster’;

Iridescencenoun

the visual property of something having a milky brightness

Opalescentadjective

showing many small points of shifting colour against a pale or dark ground

‘an opalescent sky’;

Iridescence

Iridescence (also known as goniochromism) is the phenomenon of certain surfaces that appear to gradually change color as the angle of view or the angle of illumination changes. Examples of iridescence include soap bubbles, feathers, butterfly wings and seashell nacre, as well as certain minerals.