English Dictionary: Transparent | by the DICT Development Group |
3 results for Transparent | |
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]: | |
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From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: | |
Transparent \Trans*par"ent\, a. [F., from LL. transparens, -entis, p. pr. of transparere to be transparent; L. trans across, through + parere to appear. See {Appear}.] 1. Having the property of transmitting rays of light, so that bodies can be distinctly seen through; pervious to light; diaphanous; pellucid; as, transparent glass; a transparent diamond; -- opposed to {opaque}. [bd]Transparent elemental air.[b8] --Milton. 2. Admitting the passage of light; open; porous; as, a transparent veil. --Dryden. Syn: Translucent; pellucid; clear; bright; limpid; lucid; diaphanous. See {Translucent}. -- {Trans*par"ent*ly}, adv. -- {Trans*par"ent*ness}, n. | |
From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (15Feb98) [foldoc]: | |
transparent 1. functions in a manner not evident to the user. For example, the {Domain Name System} transparently resolves a {fully qualified domain name} into an {Internet address} without the user being aware of it. Compare this to what {Donald Norman (http://www.atg.apple.com/Norman/)} calls "invisibility", which he illustrates from the user's point of view: "You use computers when you use many modern automobiles, microwave ovens, games, CD players and calculators. You don't notice the computer because you think of yourself as doing the task, not as using the computer." ["The Design of Everyday Things", New York, Doubleday, 1989, p. 185]. 2. sub-system in which matters generally subject to volition or stochastic state change have been chosen, measured, or determined by the environment. Thus for transparent systems, output is a known function of the inputs, and users can both predict the behaviour and depend upon it. (1996-06-04) |