specular

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈspɛkjʊlə/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(spek′yə lər)


WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
spec•u•lar  (spek′yə lər),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. pertaining to or having the properties of a mirror.
  2. pertaining to a speculum.
  3. Optics(of reflected light) directed, as from a smooth, polished surface (opposed to diffuse).
  • Latin speculāris, equivalent. to specul(um) a mirror (spec(ere) to look, regard + -ulum instrumental suffix; see -ule) + -āris -ar1
  • 1570–80
spec′u•lar•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
specular / ˈspɛkjʊlə/
  1. of, relating to, or having the properties of a mirror
  2. of or relating to a speculum
Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin speculāris, from speculum a mirror, from specere to look at
'specular' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
diffuse

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