I'm trying to understand the meaning of the word "translucent" when used to describe optical properties of objects. Does it mean "I can see through" or "the light can go through"?
I understand that water is transparent (and colorless), whereas iron is opaque. What about colored glass: it's still transparent, right?
Now, let's take the same colored glass and turn it into a shape which distorts light. Does it become translucent, or is it still transparent?
Finally, what about wax? It's certainly not transparent, but some light manages to go through. Is it translucent then?
Best Answer
In general, you should use only one of "transparent", "translucent", and "opaque" when describing objects, otherwise it can get confusing. A window is transparent. A window with a piece of white paper over it is translucent. A window with a black curtain over it is opaque.
If you have a colored glass through which you can clearly distinguish objects, I would call it "transparent" (or at least "see-through") even if the images of those objects are distorted by the glass.
If you are talking about actual stone marble, cut thin enough to allow light to be seen through, I would call it translucent:
Of course, objects can be partly transparent/translucent, especially if made of mixed materials.