Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense illuminates, present participle illuminating, past tense, past participle illuminated
1. verb
To illuminate something means to shine light on it and to make it brighter and more visible.
[formal]
No streetlights illuminated the street. [VERB noun]
The black sky was illuminated by forked lightning. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: light up, light, brighten, irradiate More Synonyms of illuminate
2. verb
If you illuminate something that is unclear or difficult to understand, you make it clearer by explaining it carefully or giving information about it.
[formal]
They use games and drawings to illuminate their subject. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: explain, interpret, make clear, clarify More Synonyms of illuminate
illuminatingadjective
His autobiography provides an illuminating insight into his mind.
Synonyms: informative, revealing, enlightening, helpful More Synonyms of illuminate
More Synonyms of illuminate
illuminate in British English
verb (ɪˈluːmɪˌneɪt)
1. (transitive)
to throw light in or into; light up
to illuminate a room
2. (transitive)
to make easily understood; clarify
3.
to adorn, decorate, or be decorated with lights
4. (transitive)
to decorate (a letter, page, etc) by the application of colours, gold, or silver
5. (intransitive)
to become lighted up
adjective (ɪˈluːmɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)
6. archaic
made clear or bright with light; illuminated
noun (ɪˈluːmɪnɪt, -ˌneɪt)
7.
a person who has or claims to have special enlightenment
Derived forms
illuminative (ilˈluminative)
adjective
illuminator (ilˈlumiˌnator)
noun
Word origin
C16: from Latin illūmināre to light up, from lūmen light
illuminate in American English
(ɪˈluməˌneɪt)
verb transitiveWord forms: ilˈlumiˌnated or ilˈlumiˌnating
1.
a.
to give light to; light up
b.
to brighten; animate
2.
a.
to make clear; explain; elucidate
b.
to inform; instruct; enlighten
3.
to make illustrious, glorious, or famous
4.
to decorate with lights
5.
a.
to decorate (an initial letter or word) with designs, tracings, etc. of gold, silver, or bright colors
b.
to decorate (a manuscript, page border, etc.) with such initial letters, miniature pictures, etc.
adjective
6.
make bright with light
7.
enlightened in mind or spirit
noun
8. Archaic
a person who has or claims to have special knowledge
Derived forms
illuminable (ilˈluminable)
adjective
Word origin
< L illuminatus, pp. of illuminare, to light up < in-, in + luminare, to light < lumen (gen. luminis), a light < IE *leuksmen < base *leuk-: see illustrate
Examples of 'illuminate' in a sentence
illuminate
There was just enough dawn light to illuminate the retreating skin of water that shadowed each dead wave.
Trenhalle, John A MEANS TO EVIL (2004)
He struck a match, and held it at arm's length flickering and guttering, trying to illuminate the space he was in.
Harvey, John THE LEGEND OF CAPTAIN SPACE (2004)
Then he picked up the Grail, holding the torch to illuminate it, looking at it properly now.
Amanda Hemingway THE GREENSTONE GRAIL: THE SANGREAL TRILOGY ONE (2004)
He could see the faint glow of white as the moon gathered its energy to rise and illuminate the night.
James W. Huston FLASH POINT (2004)
In other languages
illuminate
British English: illuminate VERB
To illuminate something means to shine light on it and to make it brighter and more visible.
No streetlights illuminated the street.
American English: illuminate
Brazilian Portuguese: iluminar
Chinese: 照亮
European Spanish: iluminar
French: éclairer
German: beleuchten
Italian: illuminare
Japanese: >照らす光を
Korean: 조명하다
European Portuguese: iluminar
Latin American Spanish: iluminar
Chinese translation of 'illuminate'
illuminate
(ɪˈluːmɪneɪt)
vt
[room, street, building]照明 (zhàomíng)
(= explain) 解释(釋) (jiěshì)
1 (verb)
Definition
to light up
No streetlights illuminate the street.
Synonyms
light up
Sue's face lit up with surprise.
light
The giant moon lit the road brightly.
brighten
Her tearful eyes brightened with interest.
irradiate
illumine (literary)
Opposites
obscure
,
dim
,
overshadow
,
darken
,
black out
,
shade
,
overcast
2 (verb)
Definition
to make easily understood
The instructors use games to illuminate the subject.
Synonyms
explain
He explained the process to us in simple terms.
interpret
The judge has to interpret the law as it's being passed.
make clear
clarify
A bank spokesman was unable to clarify the situation.
clear up
enlighten
Their aim is to enlighten the public about the situation.
shed light on
elucidate
He refused to elucidate the reasons for his decision.
explicate (formal)
scholars who seek to explicate religious texts
give insight into
Opposites
obscure
,
cloud
,
veil
,
obfuscate
,
befog
3 (verb)
Definition
to decorate with lights
medieval illuminated manuscripts
Synonyms
decorate
He decorated the box with glitter and ribbons.
illustrate
He has illustrated the book with black-and-white photographs.
adorn
Several oil paintings adorn the walls.
ornament
The Egyptians ornamented their mirrors with carved handles of ivory, gold, or wood.
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adorn
Definition
to decorate
Several oil paintings adorn the walls.
Synonyms
decorate,
enhance,
deck,
trim,
grace,
array,
enrich,
garnish,
ornament,
embellish,
emblazon,
festoon,
bedeck,
beautify,
engarland
in the sense of brighten
Definition
to make or become bright or brighter
Her tearful eyes brightened with interest.
Synonyms
light up,
shine,
glow,
gleam,
clear up,
lighten,
enliven
in the sense of clarify
Definition
to make or become clear or easy to understand
A bank spokesman was unable to clarify the situation.