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illuminant

American  
[ih-loo-muh-nuhnt] / ɪˈlu mə nənt /

noun

  1. an illuminating agent or material.


illuminant British  
/ ɪˈluːmɪnənt /

noun

  1. something that provides or gives off light

"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

adjective

  1. giving off light; illuminating

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of illuminant

1635–45; < Latin illūminant- (stem of illūmināns ) present participle of illūmināre to light up, brighten, equivalent to illūmin- ( see illumine) + -ant- -ant

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.

See Examples For:

A fixture even more than a star, either way an illuminant.

From New York Times Jan. 29, 2021

Kerosene was the dominant illuminant fuel for a few decades between the decline of whale oil and the rise of electricity.

From Forbes Oct. 21, 2011

For the illuminant used in enlarging, we may employ either daylight or artificial light.

From Bromide Printing and Enlarging A Practical Guide to the Making of Bromide Prints by Contact and Bromide Enlarging by Daylight and Artificial Light, With the Toning of Bromide Prints and Enlargements by Tennant, John A.

From single factories coal-gas at length came into use as a street illuminant, although somewhat tardily.

From Coal and What We Get from It by Meldola, Raphael

When petroleum began to be used as an illuminant it is impossible to say.

From De Re Metallica, Translated from the First Latin Edition of 1556 by Agricola, Georgius

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