Synonyms

irradiate

American

[ih-rey-dee-eyt, ih-rey-dee-it, -eyt] / ɪˈreɪ diˌeɪt, ɪˈreɪ di ɪt, -ˌeɪt /

verb (used with object)

to shed rays of light upon; illuminate.
to illumine intellectually or spiritually.
to brighten as if with light.
to radiate (light, illumination, etc.).
to heat with radiant energy.
to treat by exposure to radiation, as of ultraviolet light.
to expose to radiation.

verb (used without object)

Archaic.
1. to emit rays; shine.
2. to become radiant.

adjective

irradiated; bright.

irradiate British

/ ɪˈreɪdɪˌeɪt /

verb

(tr) physics to subject to or treat with light or other electromagnetic radiation or with beams of particles
(tr) to expose (food) to electromagnetic radiation to kill bacteria and retard deterioration
(tr) to make clear or bright intellectually or spiritually; illumine
a less common word for radiate
obsolete (intr) to become radiant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

irradiate Scientific

/ ĭ-rā′dē-āt′ /

To expose to or treat with radiation. For example, meat sold as food is often irradiated with x-rays or other radiation to kill bacteria; uranium 238 can be irradiated with neutrons to create fissionable plutonium 239.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

Future

Etymology

Origin of irradiate

1595–1605; < Latin irradiātus, past participle of irradiāre to shine upon. See ir- ¹, radiate

Vocabulary lists containing irradiate

Nuclear Processes

Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!

Physics - High School

Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!

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.

A real Seraph met his gaze— There was no doubt of that— Irradiate with celestial rays.

From 'That Very Mab' by Kendall, May

His skin was dark as bronze; his face Irradiate, and yet severe; His eyes had much of love and grace, But glowed so bright, they filled with fear.

From Ancient Ballads and Legends of Hindustan by Dutt, Toru

I say but that this love of Earth reveals A soul beside our own to quicken, quell, Irradiate, and through ruinous floods uplift.

From Poems — Volume 2 by Meredith, George

As the earth in May Glistens with vernal flowers, or as the face Of one whose love at last has found return Irradiate shines, so shone King Anna's house, A home of Christian peace.

From Legends of the Saxon Saints by De Vere, Aubrey

How touching and how worthy of adoption the poet's language: "Celestial light Shine inward, and the mind through all her powers Irradiate; there plant eyes, all mist from thence Purge and disperse!"

From Female Scripture Biographies, Volume II by Cox, Francis Augustus

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023