illuminate

American  

[ih-loo-muh-neyt, ih-loo-muh-nit, -neyt] / ɪˈlu məˌneɪt, ɪˈlu mə nɪt, -ˌneɪt /

verb (used with object)

illuminated, illuminating

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.

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verb (used without object)

illuminated, illuminating

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 British  

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

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adjective

1. archaic made clear or bright with light; illuminated

noun

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

Other Word Forms

• illuminatingly adverb
• illuminative adjective
• illuminator noun
• preilluminate verb (used with object)
• reilluminate verb
• semi-illuminated adjective
• unilluminated adjective

Etymology

Origin of illuminate

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

Example Sentences

But it’s all building to this moment, and this is one of the things I love about the film, is that it illuminates the importance of human connection.

From Los Angeles Times

It also highlights how ancient DNA can illuminate the deep history of infectious diseases, showing how short-lived childhood infections can eventually become part of the human genome.

From Science Daily

What happened to California illuminates the unevenness of abolition and the many false promises of freedom.

From Los Angeles Times

The illuminated door lever pops out of its socket and a puddle light projects the Cadillac crest at your feet.

From The Wall Street Journal

For Cignetti, the experience at Alabama was especially illuminating, since he caught the program at a rare moment.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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