illuminate

[ verb ih-loo-muh-neyt; adjective noun ih-loo-muh-nit, -neyt ]

verb (used with object)

, il·lu·mi·nat·ed, il·lu·mi·nat·ing.

1. to supply or brighten with light; light up.
2. to make lucid or clear; throw light on (a subject).

   Synonyms: elucidate, explain, clarify

3. to decorate with lights, as in celebration.
4. to enlighten, as with knowledge.
5. to make resplendent or illustrious:

   A smile illuminated her face.

6. to decorate (a manuscript, book, etc.) with colors and gold or silver, as was often done in the Middle Ages.

verb (used without object)

, il·lu·mi·nat·ed, il·lu·mi·nat·ing.

1. to display lights, as in celebration.
2. to become illuminated.

adjective

1. Archaic. illuminated.
2. Obsolete. enlightened.

noun

1. Archaic. a person who is or affects to be specially enlightened.

illuminate

verb

1. tr to throw light in or into; light up

   to illuminate a room

2. tr to make easily understood; clarify
3. to adorn, decorate, or be decorated with lights
4. tr to decorate (a letter, page, etc) by the application of colours, gold, or silver
5. intr to become lighted up

adjective

1. archaic.
   made clear or bright with light; illuminated

noun

1. a person who has or claims to have special enlightenment

Derived Forms

• ilˈlumiˌnator, noun
• ilˈluminative, adjective

Other Words From

• il·lumi·nating·ly adverb
• preil·lumi·nate verb (used with object)
• reil·lumi·nate verb reilluminated reilluminating
• semi-il·lumi·nated adjective
• unil·lumi·nated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of illuminate¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin illūminātus, past participle of illūmināre “to light up, brighten”; illumine ( def ), -ate ¹( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of illuminate¹

C16: from Latin illūmināre to light up, from lūmen light

Example Sentences

When we can barely illuminate our own world, it would be superstitious to imagine that dead men could do it for us.

From The Daily Beast

These numbers portend to illuminate society-threatening failures within the current immigration enforcement system.

From The Daily Beast

Reading them will illuminate your own life and make it better.

From The Daily Beast

Dispensing with some of the objections helps to illuminate this case.

From The Daily Beast

But he says it well and often adds fresh details that help illuminate events in countries like Afghanistan.

From The Daily Beast

Two many-branched candelabra, holding wax lights, brilliantly illuminate the game.

From Project Gutenberg

Great artists appear in clusters, and amid the other constellations that illuminate the intellectual heavens.

From Project Gutenberg

By that time the grin in his face was almost bright enough of itself to illuminate any ordinary page.

From Project Gutenberg

History wants no illusions; it should illuminate and instruct, not merely give descriptions and narratives which impress us.

From Project Gutenberg

There was sufficient light from the lamps of the two cars to illuminate the scene.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• clarify
• define
• dramatize
• elucidate
• explain
• illustrate