luminous
[loo-muh-nuh s]
- radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright.
- lighted up or illuminated; well-lighted: the luminous ballroom.
- brilliant intellectually; enlightened or enlightening, as a writer or a writer's works: a luminous concept; luminous prose.
- clear; readily intelligible: a concise, luminous report.
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Origin of luminous
Synonyms
See more synonyms for luminous on Thesaurus.com1. lucid, radiant, resplendent, brilliant. 3. bright, intelligent. 4. understandable, perspicuous, lucid.
Antonyms
1, 2. dark. 3. stupid. 4. obscure.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for luminous
Contemporary Examples
There he claims he saw a luminous object change colors several times then vanish into the night sky.
1980: America’s First Extraterrestrial ElectionOctober 15, 2014
Reviews when the play was at Steppenwolf in Chicago described her as luminous.
Fall Broadway Preview: 'This Is Our Youth,' Bradley Cooper as ‘The Elephant Man,' and MoreJanice Kaplan
September 11, 2014
Her luminous face has been preserved forever, and multiplies with every tribute.
Silverstone will “show you the way to have a luminous, present, ailment-free pregnancy.”
The luminous 31-year-old actress who just took home an Academy Award has absolutely nothing to do.
Historical Examples
The bridegroom regarded her with a face that was luminous of delight.
Within the LawMarvin Dana
They were dark, luminous and velvet soft as they watched my struggle.
The Bacillus of BeautyHarriet Stark
He looked back at it only once, and beheld the luminous glow of the campfires.
The Rock of ChickamaugaJoseph A. Altsheler
That was the soul and secret of our rapid and luminous onward march.
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863Adam Gurowski
There was a luminous whiteness in the sky that affected the eyes, as snow does.
A Spirit in PrisonRobert Hichens
luminous
- radiating or reflecting light; shining; glowingluminous colours
- (not in technical use) exhibiting luminescenceluminous paint
- full of light; well-lit
- (of a physical quantity in photometry) evaluated according to the visual sensation produced in an observer rather than by absolute energy measurementsluminous flux; luminous intensity Compare radiant
- easily understood; lucid; clear
- enlightening or wise
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Word Origin
C15: from Latin lūminōsus full of light, from lūmen light
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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Word Origin and History for luminous
adj.
early 15c., "full of light," from Latin luminosus "shining, full of light," from lumen (genitive luminis) "light," related to lucere "to shine" (see light (n.)). Related: Luminously.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
luminous
(lōō′mə-nəs)- Emitting light, especially emitting self-generated light.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.