illuminant
Americannoun
noun
adjective
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.
Then Yale chemist Benjamin Silliman Jr. showed how crude oil could be fractionated into various liquids, one of which was kerosene, an excellent illuminant that was much cheaper than whale oil.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 2, 2026
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
The illuminant is most commonly an oil-lamp, or an acetylene gas jet, or a cylinder of lime heated to intense luminosity by an oxy-hydrogen flame.
From How it Works Dealing in simple language with steam, electricity, light, heat, sound, hydraulics, optics, etc., and with their applications to apparatus in common use by Archibald Williams
Microscope Illuminant.—In tropical and subtropical regions diffuse daylight is the best illuminant.
From The Elements of Bacteriological Technique A Laboratory Guide for Medical, Dental, and Technical Students. Second Edition Rewritten and Enlarged. by J. W. H. (John William Henry) Eyre
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