Noun: diffraction grating di'frak-shun 'grey-ting
- Optical device consisting of a surface with many parallel grooves in it; disperses a beam of light (or other electromagnetic radiation) into its wavelengths to produce its spectrum
"The scientist used a diffraction grating to analyse the light from distant stars";
- grating
Derived forms: diffraction gratings
Type of: optical device
Encyclopedia: Diffraction grating