albedo

noun

al·​be·​do al-ˈbē-(ˌ)dō 

plural albedos

1

: reflective power

specifically : the fraction of incident radiation (such as light) that is reflected by a surface or body (such as the moon or a cloud) compare reflectance

2

: the whitish, spongy inner part of the rind of a citrus fruit : the mesocarp of a hesperidium

The trouble with grapefruit is that however carefully you peel it, some of the white stuff always sticks to the fruit. The spongy white tissue, called albedo, is quite bitter, and it clings with the tenacity of lichen.

—Discover

compare flavedo

Examples of albedo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The playground’s white surface also reflects heat immediately, due to the albedo effect, which may make the area feel hotter during the day. —Yessenia Funes, Curbed, 14 Aug. 2024

There are two factors: size and brightness (or albedo, the fraction of light that is reflected from the surface), says Szabo. —Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024

On a trip last year, Tedesco brought along a drone to measure albedo at the edge of the ice sheet. —Elizabeth Kolbert, The New Yorker, 7 Oct. 2024

The speed is likely due to the albedo effect, where the more ice there is, the more sunlight is reflected back into space and vice versa. —Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 15 Aug. 2024

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Late Latin albēdin-, albēdō "whiteness, white color," from Latin albus "light-colored, white" + -ēdin-, -ēdō, suffix of abstract nouns; (sense 1) after German Albedo in this sense, borrowed from Latin — more at alb, torpedo

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

albedo

noun

al·​be·​do al-ˈbēd-(ˌ)ō 

plural albedos

: the fraction of incident light or electromagnetic radiation that is reflected by a surface or body (as the moon or the skin)