Is 'stilb' a common word in English?

No, it is an extremely rare and highly technical term used only in photometry.

What does a stilb measure?

It measures luminance, which is the intensity of light emitted from a surface per unit area.

Is 'stilb' still used today?

It is largely obsolete. The modern SI unit for luminance is the candela per square metre (nit).

Where does the word 'stilb' come from?

It originates from the Greek word 'stilbein', meaning 'to glitter' or 'shine'.

Is “stilb” formal?

Stilb is usually highly technical / scientific in register.

How do you pronounce “stilb”?

Stilb: in British English it is pronounced /stɪlb/, and in American English it is pronounced /stɪlb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

stilb: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

Extremely Rare / Technical

UK/stɪlb/US/stɪlb/

Highly Technical / Scientific

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “stilb” mean?

A unit of luminance equal to one candela per square centimetre.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

A unit of luminance equal to one candela per square centimetre.

In scientific contexts, specifically physics and photometry, it refers to a measurement of surface brightness.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No regional differences; usage is identical and equally rare in both BrE and AmE scientific communities.

Connotations

Purely technical, neutral, and archaic.

Frequency

Extremely low frequency in both varieties. It appears only in specialised physics textbooks or historical technical documents.

Grammar

How to Use “stilb” in a Sentence

[Noun] of [number] stilbsluminance measured in stilbs

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

one stilbper stilbmeasured in stilbs

medium

brightness of X stilbsluminance in stilbs

weak

high stilb valueconvert to stilbs

Usage

Meaning in Context

Business

Never used.

Academic

Used only in historical or highly specialised physics/engineering photometry contexts.

Everyday

Never used.

Technical

Primary and only context. Archaic CGS photometric unit.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “stilb”

Strong

CGS unit of luminance

Neutral

candela per square centimetre

Weak

brightness unitphotometric unit

Vocabulary

Antonyms of “stilb”

(conceptual) darkness

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “stilb”

Confusing it with 'style' due to similar spelling.
Using it in non-scientific contexts.
Assuming it is a current, standard unit.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: No, it is an extremely rare and highly technical term used only in photometry.
: It measures luminance, which is the intensity of light emitted from a surface per unit area.
: It is largely obsolete. The modern SI unit for luminance is the candela per square metre (nit).
: It originates from the Greek word 'stilbein', meaning 'to glitter' or 'shine'.
: A unit of luminance equal to one candela per square centimetre.
: Stilb is usually highly technical / scientific in register.
: Stilb: in British English it is pronounced /stɪlb/, and in American English it is pronounced /stɪlb/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.

Phrases

Idioms & Phrases

“No idioms exist for this word.”

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a 'still' spotlight beam on a surface; its brightness measured in 'stilbs'.

Conceptual Metaphor

Brightness as a quantifiable layer.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

The is an obsolete unit of luminance from the CGS system.

Multiple Choice

In which field would you encounter the word 'stilb'?