Word of the Day

: August 22, 2021

liminal

play
adjective LIM-uh-nul

What It Means

Liminal is used to describe something that is barely perceptible or that involves a transitional or in-between state.

// The essay presents an image of the border region as a liminal zone where one culture blends into another.

See the entry >

liminal in Context

"In the vast but liminal space of the ocean, cargo vessels—some of the largest machines on the planet—have generally operated in obscurity." — Aurora Almendral, The New York Times, 27 June 2021

"This new body of work glows with a more subtle light. [Rick Worth] captures a particular summer kind of Key West glow, the liminal luminosity of streetlights on the poincianas or the dappled glow of sea grapes of Fort Zach." — The Key West (Florida) Citizen, 30 June 2021


Did You Know?

When liminal first appeared in written use, it referred to something (such as a physical stimulus) which was just barely perceptible, or just barely capable of eliciting a response. This meaning is still in use today in constructions like "liminal auditory stimuli." The word comes from the noun limen, which refers to the point at which a physiological or psychological effect begins to be produced. In its most common extended meaning now, it describes a state, place, or condition of transition, as in “the liminal zone between sleep and wakefulness.” The closely related word subliminal means “below a threshold”; it can describe something inadequate to produce a sensation or something operating below a threshold of consciousness.



Quiz

What type of food brings on an "umami" sensation?

VIEW THE ANSWER

Podcast


More Words of the Day

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!