What does lucid mean?
Word: Lucid
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Lucid means clearly expressed and easy to understand; also able to think clearly, especially after being ill or confused.
Synonyms: plain, understandable, coherent
Antonyms: confusing, unclear, muddled, vague
Word origin: Comes from Latin lucidus, bright, from lux, light.
How do you spell lucid?
Syllables: lu - cid
Tricky part: The sound in the middle is spelt with a c, not an s, so lusid is wrong.
Watch out for: lusid, lucide, loosid
Memory tip: Lucid shares its c with lucent and translucent, two words about light. A lucid answer lets light into your mind, so spell it with the c of light words.
Lucid in a sentence
Example 1: The doctor gave a lucid explanation of why the vaccine is needed.
Example 2: Her answer was short and lucid, so the examiner gave her full marks.
Example 3: Grandpa was sleepy after his afternoon nap but perfectly lucid.
Fun Fact
A lucid dream is one in which the sleeper knows that they are dreaming, and some people can even steer what happens in it.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the word closest in meaning to lucid as used in the sentence:
The professor's lucid talk on how the monsoon winds form over the Arabian Sea held the whole hall's attention.
a) clear
b) lengthy
c) loud
d) boring
Show answer
a) clear. A lucid talk is easy to follow, which is what clear means; lengthy, boring and loud describe other things.
Word Cookie
Insert the correct letters to form a word:
l_c_d
a) u, e
b) u, i
c) e, i
d) o, i
Show answer
b) u, i. Lucid has a u after the l, as in Latin lux, and an i before the d.
Spell-o-Spell
Only one word in the list is spelt correctly. Choose the meaning of that word.
1. lucid 2. coherant 3. eloquant 4. consise
a) so plain that anyone can follow it
b) logical and well connected
c) short and to the point
d) able to speak well and movingly
Show answer
a) so plain that anyone can follow it. Eloquent and coherent end in ent and concise has a c after the n, so lucid is the only word spelt correctly.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these is the best example of lucid writing?
a) steps a new user gets right first time
b) a story that keeps changing its subject
c) a report full of terms nobody explains
d) a note that skips several key steps
Show answer
a) steps a new user gets right first time
2. Because the rules were lucid, the new players ____.
a) understood the game at once
b) gave up after one round
c) kept asking what to do
d) argued about every move
Show answer
a) understood the game at once
