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radiate

[verb rey-dee-eyt; adjective rey-dee-it, -eyt]
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verb (used without object), ra·di·at·ed, ra·di·at·ing.
  1. to extend, spread, or move like rays or radii from a center.
  2. to emit rays, as of light or heat; irradiate.
  3. to issue or proceed in rays.
  4. (of persons) to project or glow with cheerfulness, joy, etc.: She simply radiates with good humor.
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verb (used with object), ra·di·at·ed, ra·di·at·ing.
  1. to emit in rays; disseminate, as from a center.
  2. (of persons) to project (joy, goodwill, etc.).
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adjective
  1. radiating from a center.
  2. having rays extending from a central point or part: a coin showing a radiate head.
  3. radiating symmetrically.
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Origin of radiate

First recorded in 1610–20, radiate is from the Latin word radiātus (past participle of radiāre to radiate light, shine). See radiant, -ate1
Related formsra·di·a·ble, adjectivera·di·a·bil·i·ty, ra·di·a·ble·ness, nounra·di·a·bly, ra·di·ate·ly, adverban·ti·ra·di·at·ing, adjectivein·ter·ra·di·ate, verb (used without object), in·ter·ra·di·at·ed, in·ter·ra·di·at·ing.mul·ti·ra·di·ate, adjectivemul·ti·ra·di·at·ed, adjectivenon·ra·di·at·ing, adjectivere·ra·di·ate, verb, re·ra·di·at·ed, re·ra·di·at·ing.sub·ra·di·ate, adjectiveun·ra·di·at·ed, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Related Words

shine, gleam, emanate, emit, beam, transmit, diverge, diffuse, ramify, proliferate, shed, illumine, irradiate, ramble, disseminate, afford, issue, distribute, sprinkle, yield

Examples from the Web for radiate

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • There was nothing the matter, only he had not yet learned to radiate.

    Weighed and Wanting

    George MacDonald

  • He just seems to radiate good will, and friendliness, and optimism wherever he goes.

    Mixed Faces

    Roy Norton

  • The capacity of bodies to radiate and to absorb differ considerably.

    Aether and Gravitation

    William George Hooper

  • There are three streets that radiate from it directly through the heart of the town.

    Rollo in Rome

    Jacob Abbott

  • Yet everything about him seemed to be made up of kindness—to radiate comfort.

British Dictionary definitions for radiate

radiate

verb (ˈreɪdɪˌeɪt)
  1. Also: eradiate to emit (heat, light, or some other form of radiation) or (of heat, light, etc) to be emitted as radiation
  2. (intr) (of lines, beams, etc) to spread out from a centre or be arranged in a radial pattern
  3. (tr) (of a person) to show (happiness, health, etc) to a great degree
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adjective (ˈreɪdɪɪt, -ˌeɪt)
  1. having rays; radiating
  2. (of a capitulum) consisting of ray florets
  3. (of animals or their parts) showing radial symmetry
  4. adorned or decorated with raysa radiate head on a coin
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Word Origin

C17: from Latin radiāre to emit rays
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 radiate

v.

1610s, "spread in all directions from a point," from Latin radiatus, past participle of radiare "to beam, shine, gleam; make beaming" (see radiation). Meaning "be radiant, give off rays (of light or heat)" is from 1704. Related: Radiated; radiates; radiating.

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adj.

"having rays, furnished with rays, shining," 1660s, from Latin radiatus (see radiate (v.)).

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
radiate in Medicine

radiate

(rā′dē-āt′)
v.
  1. To spread out in all directions from a center.
  2. To emit or be emitted as radiation.
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Related formsra′di•a′tive adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.