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illuminate Definition

il·lu·mi·nate (i lo̵̅o̅mə nāt′)

transitive verb -·nat′ed, -·nat′·ing

    1. to give light to; light up
    2. to brighten; animate
    1. to make clear; explain; elucidate
    2. to inform; instruct; enlighten
  1. to make illustrious, glorious, or famous
  2. to decorate with lights
    1. to decorate (an initial letter or word) with designs, tracings, etc. of gold, silver, or bright colors
    2. to decorate (a manuscript, page border, etc.) with such initial letters, miniature pictures, etc.

Etymology: < L illuminatus, pp. of illuminare, to light up < in-, in + luminare, to light < lumen (gen. luminis), a light < IE *leuksmen < base *leuk-: see illustrate

adjective

  1. make bright with light
  2. enlightened in mind or spirit

noun

Archaic a person who has or claims to have special knowledge

illuminate Related Forms
il·lu·mi·nable adjective
illuminate Synonyms

illuminate

v.

  1. To make light

    lighten, irradiate, illumine, brighten; see brighten 1, light 1.

  2. To explain

    interpret, elucidate, clarify; see explain.

  3. To decorate

    illustrate, ornament, trim; see decorate.

illuminate Usage Examples

Object

  • manuscript: Books of Hours were the most popular sort of medieval illuminated manuscript.
  • bollard: Considering road safety for the general public at large, a pedestrian refuge with illuminated bollards is to be constructed in North Street.
  • sign: The density of illuminated signs in Times Square now rivals Las Vegas.
  • darkness: The latter illuminates the darkness of ignorance with the light of knowledge.
  • mirror: The mirrors sit within the router so that only one wavelength can illuminate any one mirror.
  • specimen: Here you simple obstruct most of the light in the cone, leaving just the edge of light cone still illuminating the specimen.

Subject

  • sunlight: Illuminated by sunlight, the prints are transparent enough to see through to the outside urban surroundings.
  • lamp: All three cartridge stores were entered through shifting lobbies and illuminated by lamps placed in recesses from the adjacent chambers.
  • sun: The curious, spidery blooms look great illuminated by the winter sun.
  • candle: The cell was illuminated by a single candle next to an open bible.
  • beam: Unusual features: The program can be used to calculate the absorption in samples that are only partly illuminated by the X-ray beam.

Modifying Another Word

  • brightly: Will we find government brightly illuminated by the new right to know?
  • internally: Computer displays usually need to be illuminated internally in order to make their pixels visible.
  • dimly: When we reached the plateau, we found a broad square, dimly illuminated by street lights, into which many streets converged.

Preposition: by

  • sunlight: Illuminated by sunlight, the prints are transparent enough to see through to the outside urban surroundings.
  • lamp: All three cartridge stores were entered through shifting lobbies and illuminated by lamps placed in recesses from the adjacent chambers.
  • candle: The cell was illuminated by a single candle next to an open bible.
  • sun: The curious, spidery blooms look great illuminated by the winter sun.
  • beam: Unusual features: The program can be used to calculate the absorption in samples that are only partly illuminated by the X-ray beam.
  • moon: Two chapters, Leaning from the steep slope and On a carpet of leaves illuminated by the moon, are stand-alone masterpieces.
illuminate Quotes

The primary duty of a serious biographer is to illuminate hissubject'slife work, nottoplay thespy inhisbedroom.

—Toynbee, (Theodore) Philip

Browse dictionary entries near illuminate

  1. illuminant
  2. illuminance
  3. illume
  4. illogical
  5. illogic
  6. illocutionary
  7. illness
  8. illiterate
  9. illiteracy
  10. illite
  1. illuminated
  2. illuminati
  3. illumination
  4. illuminative
  5. illuminator
  6. illumine
  7. illuminism
  8. illus
  9. illusion
  10. illusionism