# scintillation

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˌsɪn.tɪˈleɪ.ʃən/ · frequency rank #72,746

## Definitions
1. A flash of light; a spark.
2. The twinkling of a star or other celestial body caused by turbulence in the Earth's atmosphere.
3. The flash of light produced by something (especially a phosphor) when it absorbs ionizing radiation.
4. A brief expression that is amusing or clever; witticism.

## Etymology
From scintillate + -ion.

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/scintillation