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Definition of clavilux
clavilux
/ˈklæv.ɪ.lʌks/
cla · vi · lux
Plural:claviluxes
clavilux Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
13
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
Syllables
3
• noun
1
A specialized instrument equipped with a keyboard, designed to project shifting patterns of colored light onto a screen, originally invented for the performance of silent light art known as 'Lumia'.
Example
"The museum's retrospective on early kinetic art featured a beautifully restored clavilux from the 1920s."
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined by the Danish-American inventor Thomas Wilfred around 1919, derived from the Latin words 'clavis' (key) and 'lux' (light).
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Clavilux. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 6, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/clavilux