Etymology Borrowed from French incandescent, from Latin incandescens, from incandesco (“be heated, glow”), from in- (intensifying prefix) + candesco (“become white”), from candidus (“white”).
1
Emitting light as a result of being heated.
We will all go together when we go / All suffused with an incandescent glow1959, Tom Lehrer, “We Will All Go Together When We Go”:
Rather than burning out as incandescent bulbs do, L.E.D.’s light output dims over tens of thousands of hours. L.E.D.’s are also more resistant to vibration than incandescents or screw-in fluorescent bulbs, and do not flicker or hum.2007 March 1, Matthew L. Wald, “Room to Improve”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 03 Jun 2017:
2
Shining very brightly.
Those multitoned buttes and mesas [of the Grand Canyon], and that incandescent sequence of colorful bands that make one of the natural wonders of the world so grand, can also be found over 100 million miles away [on Mars].2013 November 27, John Grotzinger, “The world of Mars [print version: International Herald Tribune Magazine, 2013, p. 36]”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 02 Nov 2017:
3
Figuratively Showing intense emotion, as of a performance, etc.
The incandescent performance enraptured the audience.
4
Extremely angry; furious.
She is incandescent with rage because someone stole her wallet.
Etymology Borrowed from French incandescent, from Latin incandescens, from incandesco (“be heated, glow”), from in- (intensifying prefix) + candesco (“become white”), from candidus (“white”).
1
An incandescent lamp or bulb.
Compact fluorescents are typically rated at 7,500 to 10,000 hours, and incandescents at about 1,500 hours.2007 March 1, Matthew L. Wald, “Room to Improve”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 03 Jun 2017: