irradiate

[ih-rey-dee-eyt, ih-rey-dee-it, -eyt]

verb (used with object)

irradiated, irradiating 

1. to shed rays of light upon; illuminate.

2. to illumine intellectually or spiritually.

3. to brighten as if with light.

4. to radiate (light, illumination, etc.).

5. to heat with radiant energy.

6. to treat by exposure to radiation, as of ultraviolet light.

7. to expose to radiation.

verb (used without object)

irradiated, irradiating 

1. Archaic.

   1. to emit rays; shine.

   2. to become radiant.

adjective

1. irradiated; bright.

irradiate

/ ɪˈreɪdɪˌeɪt /

verb

1. (tr) physics to subject to or treat with light or other electromagnetic radiation or with beams of particles

2. (tr) to expose (food) to electromagnetic radiation to kill bacteria and retard deterioration

3. (tr) to make clear or bright intellectually or spiritually; illumine

4. a less common word for radiate

5. obsolete,  (intr) to become radiant

irradiate

1. 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

• irradiatingly adverb
• irradiative adjective
• irradiator noun
• nonirradiated adjective
• unirradiated adjective
• unirradiative adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of irradiate¹

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

Example Sentences

The irradiated vessels were towed to Hunters Point, and used as the material and hardware upon which scientists tested decontamination methods.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"This example of diamond synthesis is the ultimate demonstration that electrons do not destroy organic molecules but let them undergo well-defined chemical reactions, if we install suitable properties in molecules to be irradiated," he said.

Read more on Science Daily

Robinson and Kanin treat comedy similarly to how the Army irradiated part of the Nevada desert with hundreds of nuclear explosions: No interaction is too minor to dement.

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The series takes place centuries after nuclear war turned most of the U.S. into an irradiated wasteland.

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Instead of using cobalt or other radioactive materials, Wilson’s team uses an X-ray machine to irradiate the pests.

Read more on Los Angeles Times