illuminating
[ih-loo-muh-ney-ting]
- giving or casting light.
- informative; enlightening.
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Origin of illuminating
illuminate
[verb ih-loo-muh-neyt; adjective, noun ih-loo-muh-nit, -neyt]
- to supply or brighten with light; light up.
- to make lucid or clear; throw light on (a subject).
- to decorate with lights, as in celebration.
- to enlighten, as with knowledge.
- to make resplendent or illustrious: A smile illuminated her face.
- to decorate (a manuscript, book, etc.) with colors and gold or silver, as was often done in the Middle Ages.
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- to display lights, as in celebration.
- to become illuminated.
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- Archaic. illuminated.
- Obsolete. enlightened.
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- Archaic. a person who is or affects to be specially enlightened.
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Origin of illuminate
Synonyms
See more synonyms for illuminate on Thesaurus.com2. clarify, explain, elucidate.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for illuminating
Contemporary Examples
The deep truths resonated within my heart and soul, illuminating questions I had pondered over the years.
When Gary Wright Met George Harrison: Dream Weaver, John and Yoko, and MoreGary Wright
September 29, 2014
The illuminating think tank was just another example of how PepsiCo continues to make sure its global reach counts.
Food for ThoughtSeptember 18, 2014
On the easel sits a depiction of sun shining through trees, illuminating the grass below.
To see the adaptive benefits of depression, it helps to consider certain cruel but illuminating studies.
Reading Double Down and The Gamble side by side is both fascinating and illuminating.
Historical Examples
Eva Allen's brother, who is an artist, is illuminating one for me.
Grace Harlowe's Return to Overton CampusJessie Graham Flower
Mr. Chase's reply to this illuminating disclosure was that he wanted to know.
Mary-'GustaJoseph C. Lincoln
This pipe is to be connected to the illuminating gas supply.
The Automobile Storage BatteryO. A. Witte
If you did, you would make some profound and illuminating mistakes.
College TeachingPaul Klapper
Of the illuminating quality there could be no doubt whatever.
Notes on My BooksJoseph Conrad
illuminating
- serving to inform or clarify; instructive
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illuminate
- (tr) to throw light in or into; light upto illuminate a room
- (tr) to make easily understood; clarify
- to adorn, decorate, or be decorated with lights
- (tr) to decorate (a letter, page, etc) by the application of colours, gold, or silver
- (intr) to become lighted up
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- archaic made clear or bright with light; illuminated
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- a person who has or claims to have special enlightenment
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Word Origin
C16: from Latin illūmināre to light up, from lūmen 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
Word Origin and History for illuminating
illuminate
v.
c.1500, "to light up, shine on," a back-formation from illumination, or else from Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare (see illumination). Earlier was enlumyen (late 14c.) "decorate written material with gold, silver, bright colors," from Old French enluminer, from Late Latin inluminare; also illumine (late 14c.). Related: Illuminated; illuminating.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper