incandescence

/ˌɪnkənˈdɛsəns/

Incandescence is the light from heat. A fireplace adds a warm incandescence to a house in the winter.

The glow of a fire is known as incandescence. If you see a shooting star, the bright light is due to incandescence. When you have a good idea, a cartoon light bulb goes on over your head – incandescence can refer to that kind of lighting up, too, like a brilliant idea that sheds light on something. If someone has a thousand-watt smile, that’s incandescence. Any time something lights up from heat, physically or emotionally, it produces incandescence.

Definitions of incandescence

1. noun

   the phenomenon of light emission by a body as its temperature is raised
   synonyms: glow

   type of:

   light, visible light, visible radiation

   (physics) electromagnetic radiation that can produce a visual sensation
2. noun

   light from heat
   type of:

   brightness, brightness level, light, luminance, luminosity, luminousness

   the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light