Illuminate definition

ĭ-lo͝omə-nāt
illuminated illuminates illuminating
See word origin
Frequency:
To provide or brighten with light.
verb
32
9
Enlightened in mind or spirit.
adjective
18
5
Made bright with light.
adjective
14
5
To give light to; light up.
verb
7
0
One who has or professes to have an unusual degree of enlightenment.
noun
9
3
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To clarify or make something understandable.
verb
5
0
(archaic) A person who has or claims to have special knowledge.
noun
10
6
To shine light on something.
verb
4
1
To decorate with lights.
verb
3
0
To brighten; animate.
verb
3
0
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To make clear; explain; elucidate.
verb
3
0
To inform; instruct; enlighten.
verb
3
0
To expose to or reveal by radiation.
verb
2
0
To make understandable; clarify.
verb
2
0
To enlighten intellectually or spiritually; enable to understand.
verb
2
0
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To make illustrious, glorious, or famous.
verb
1
0
To decorate (an initial letter or word) with designs, tracings, etc. of gold, silver, or bright colors.
verb
1
0
To decorate (a manuscript, page border, etc.) with such initial letters, miniature pictures, etc.
verb
1
0
To decorate something with lights.
verb
1
0
To decorate the page of a manuscript book with ornamental designs.
verb
1
0
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(figuratively) To make spectacular.
verb
1
0
(intransitive) To glow.
verb
1
0
(intransitive) To be exposed to light.
verb
1
0
Someone thought to have an unusual degree of enlightenment.
noun
1
0
(obsolete) Enlightened.

adjective
1
0
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To decorate or hang with lights.
verb
3
3
To adorn (a page of a book, for example) with ornamental designs, images, or lettering in brilliant colors or precious metals.
verb
3
3
The definition of illuminate is to light something up or to explain something so that it is clear.

When you turn on a light, this is an example of a situation where you illuminate a room.

When you decorate your house for Christmas, this is an example of a situation where you illuminate a house.

When you give a simple explanation to help someone understand an issue, this is an example of a situation where the explanation illuminates the issue.

verb
1
1

Other Word Forms

Noun

Singular:
illuminate
Plural:
illuminates

Origin of illuminate

  • Middle English illuminaten from Latin illūmināre illūmināt- in- in in–2 lūmināre to light up (from lūmen lūmin- light leuk- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English illuminaten, originally from Latin illūminātum, supine of illūminō (“lighten, light up, show off”), from in + lūminō (“light up”), from lūmen (“light”). Cognate with Old English lȳman (“to glow, shine”). More at leam.

    From Wiktionary

Illuminate Sentence Examples

  • She opened the single wardrobe, pushing the doors open enough for the room's light to illuminate the contents.

  • Torch lights illuminate from a different level than the ground lighting.

  • This will illuminate all of the infrared LEDs.

  • In such instruments an arrangement is often required to intensely illuminate the object.

  • Just like traditional deck light fixtures, solar lights can be used to illuminate your deck area with soft light, but instead of cords and electrical power sources, these lights are powered by the sun's energy.

More sentences

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Words near illuminate in the Dictionary