How is an object described that gives off its own light?

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An object that gives off its own light is described as luminous. This term refers to the ability of certain objects to generate light through processes such as incandescence or luminescence. For instance, the sun is a luminous object because it produces its own light. Luminous objects can be sources of light in a dark environment and are essential for visibility.

The other terms provide different contexts that do not apply to the property of emitting light. Fluorescent refers specifically to substances that absorb light and then re-emit it, but they do not necessarily produce their own light like a true luminous object. Opaque describes materials that do not allow light to pass through, while transparent refers to materials that allow light to pass through without obstruction, neither of which implies the ability to emit light independently. Thus, the term luminous specifically and accurately characterizes objects that produce their own light.