Illuminate Definition

ĭ-lo͝omə-nāt
illuminated, illuminates, illuminating
verb
illuminated, illuminates, illuminating
To give light to; light up.
Webster's New World
To brighten; animate.
Webster's New World
To make clear; explain; elucidate.
Webster's New World
To inform; instruct; enlighten.
Webster's New World
To decorate with lights.
Webster's New World
noun
illuminates
A person who has or claims to have special knowledge.
Webster's New World
One who has or professes to have an unusual degree of enlightenment.
American Heritage
adjective
Made bright with light.
Webster's New World
Enlightened in mind or spirit.
Webster's New World

(obsolete) Enlightened.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Illuminate

Noun

Singular:
illuminate
Plural:
illuminates

Origin of Illuminate

  • From Middle English illuminaten, originally from Latin illūminātum, supine of illūminō (“lighten, light up, show off”), from in + lūminō (“light up”), from lūmen (“light”). Cognate with Old English lȳman (“to glow, shine”). More at leam.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English illuminaten from Latin illūmināre illūmināt- in- in in–2 lūmināre to light up (from lūmen lūmin- light leuk- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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