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luminary
[ loo-muh-ner-ee ]
/ ˈlu məˌnɛr i /
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noun, plural lu·mi·nar·ies.
a celestial body, as the sun or moon.
a body, object, etc., that gives light.
a person who has attained eminence in his or her field or is an inspiration to others: one of the luminaries in the field of medical science.
adjective
of, relating to, or characterized by light.
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Origin of luminary
First recorded in 1450–1500; late Middle English luminarye, from Medieval Latin lūmināria “lamp”; see luminaria
Words nearby luminary
Lumière, Luminaire, Luminal, luminance, luminaria, luminary, lumine, luminesce, luminescence, luminescent, luminiferous
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022
How to use luminary in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for luminary
luminary
/ (ˈluːmɪnərɪ) /
noun plural -naries
a person who enlightens or influences others
a famous person
literary something, such as the sun or moon, that gives off light
adjective
of, involving, or characterized by light or enlightenment
Word Origin for luminary
C15: via Old French, from Latin lūmināre lamp, from lūmen light
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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