opacify

Opacify is a verb meaning to render something opaque or less transparent, or to obscure or veil. In optics, materials science, and imaging, opacification is achieved by introducing substances or coatings that scatter or absorb light, thereby reducing transmission.

Etymology and forms: the word derives from the root opac- meaning shaded or opaque, with the English agent suffix -ify. The related noun opacifier (or opacifying agent) refers to the substance used to produce opacity, and opacification denotes the process of becoming opaque.

Applications and contexts: opacification is common in plastics, paints, paper, ceramics, and coatings. Opacifying agents—such as titanium dioxide, calcium carbonate, zinc oxide, aluminum silicate, silica, or carbon black—are added to control opacity, hiding power, color, surface appearance, and UV filtering. In architecture and photography, opacifying films and coatings are used to reduce transparency for privacy or to create matte finishes. In manufacturing, opacification can tailor light diffusion, reduce glare, or influence the perceived color of a material.

Medical and imaging contexts: in medicine, opacification describes clouding of a transparent tissue or organ. Cataracts are opacifications of the lens, and radiology uses contrast agents to opacify structures on X-ray or CT images, enhancing visibility of certain tissues.

See also: opacity, opacifier, opaqueness, translucence.