Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for luminaria. Search instead for punto+in+aria.

luminaria

American  
[loo-muh-nair-ee-uh, loo-mee-nah-ryah] / ˌlu məˈnɛər i ə, ˌlu miˈnɑ ryɑ /

noun

luminarias plural
  1. (especially in Mexico and the southwestern U.S.) a Christmas lantern consisting of a lighted candle set in sand inside a paper bag.


Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

Etymology

Origin of luminaria

1945–50; < Mexican Spanish, Spanish: any lamp or lantern displayed during a festival < Medieval Latin, Late Latin lūmināria, originally neuter plural of lūmināris lamp; see lumen, -ar 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Giant carnivalesque luminaria lights twinkled in jewel tones over rows of pews in the “Purgatory” room; later, Primal Scream performed.

From New York Times • Sep. 26, 2017

Each luminaria symbolizes one casualty, as a bagpiper plays on a hill and thousands gather in remembrance before driving slowly through the park in the dark, headlights out.

From Washington Times • Apr. 14, 2015

Nine hundred luminaria lining the portico around the church and garden will be blessed by the friars of the Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land and then lighted by volunteers.

From Washington Post • Dec. 21, 2013

"Pathway of Lights": Finally, take a loved one in hand and bundle up for a stroll around Green Lake, which will become a fairyland of luminaria on Saturday evening.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 10, 2011

I love putting luminaria up every year because it is very beautiful and a tradition and a good distraction from my birthday.

From "The Perks of Being a Wallflower" by Stephen Chbosky

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Look it up. Learn it forever.

Remember "luminaria" for good with VocabTrainer. Expand your vocabulary effortlessly with personalized learning tools that adapt to your goals.

Take me to Vocabulary.com