Topic List

Click a topic to learn more.


Term of the Moment

free software


Look Up Another Term


Definition: diffraction grating


A device that breaks up an electromagnetic wave into its different frequencies (wavelengths) by scattering them at different angles. For example, a series of thousands of scored lines in a glass plate diffracts light into a rainbow of colors. Lines of data pits on a CD give the same effect. See diffraction.