different between diffractor vs diffraction

English

Etymology

diffract +? -or

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??f?ækt?(?)/

Noun

diffractor (plural diffractors)

1. That which diffracts.

English

Etymology

(This etymology is missing or incomplete. Please add to it, or discuss it at the Etymology scriptorium.)From English "diffract", from Latin diffractus (“past participle of diffringo (“to shatter, to break into pieces”)”)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d??f?æk??n/

Noun

diffraction (countable and uncountable, plural diffractions)

1. (physics) The bending of a wave around an obstacle.
2. (quantum mechanics) The breaking up of an electromagnetic wave as it passes a geometric structure (e.g. a slit), followed by reconstruction of the wave by interference.

Derived terms

• diffraction grating

Translations

French

Pronunciation

Noun

diffraction f (plural diffractions)

1. diffraction

Related terms

• diffracter
• diffractif

Further reading

• “diffraction” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).