Definition

A material that produces light when it is struck by high-energy particles or photons.

Example

The scientist used a scintillator to detect the radiation from the experiment.

Conversation

Have you ever heard of a scintillator?

Yeah, isn’t it that material that glows when particles hit it?

Exactly! They use scintillators in detectors for radiation.

That sounds really cool; I’d love to see one in action!

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Scintillator → It is formed from "scintilla" (from Latin, meaning spark or particle) and the suffix "-ator" (meaning one who or that which). A scintillator is a device that produces light (or sparks) when it is struck by radiation.

Memory Tip

Think of a 'spark' ('scintilla') being created by a device ('-ator') — that's why a scintillator is something that produces light when it interacts with radiation.

Visually Confused Words