Question

You are listening to a podcast about fashion, and hear the hosts complain that they have gotten bored with diaphanous dresses on the red carpet.

What does the word "diaphanous" mean in this context? Use these dictionary entries to answer the question:

dia- (prefix) across or through

phan (root) show, appear




clothes that look better from across the room


clothes that make the wearer appear wider


see-through material


styles that cut across the body at odd angles

Answer 1

"Diaphanous" means made of very sheer, light, translucent fabric — i.e., see-through material. The roots dia- (through) + phan- (show) literally mean "showing through."