illuminate

• POS: Adjective, Noun, Verb (intransitive), Verb (transitive)
• HYPHEN: il=lu=mi=nate

CIDE DICTIONARY

illuminate, v. t. [L. illuminatus, p. p. of illuminare; pref. il- in + luminare to enlighten, fr. lumen light. See Luminous, and cf. Illume, Illumine, Enlimn, Limn.].

•  To make light; to throw light on; to supply with light, literally or figuratively; to brighten.  [1913 Webster]
•  To light up; to decorate with artificial lights, as a building or city, in token of rejoicing or respect.  [1913 Webster]
•  To adorn, as a book or page with borders, initial letters, or miniature pictures in colors and gold, as was done in manuscripts of the Middle Ages.  [1913 Webster]
•  To make plain or clear; to dispel the obscurity to by knowledge or reason; to explain; to elucidate; as, to illuminate a text, a problem, or a duty.  [1913 Webster]

illuminate, v. i. 

 To light up in token or rejoicing.  [1913 Webster]

illuminate, a. [L. illuminatus, p. p.].

 Enlightened.  Bp. Hall.  [1913 Webster]

illuminate, n. 

 One who is enlightened; esp., a pretender to extraordinary light and knowledge.  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

illuminate, v.tr.
1 light up; make bright.
2 decorate (buildings etc.) with lights as a sign of festivity.
3 decorate (an initial letter, a manuscript, etc.) with gold, silver, or brilliant colours.
4 help to explain (a subject etc.).
5 enlighten spiritually or intellectually.
6 shed lustre on.

Derivative

illuminating adj. illuminatingly adv. illumination n. illuminative adj. illuminator n.

Etymology

L illuminare (as IN-(2), lumen luminis light)

THESAURUS

illuminate

account for, adorn, affect, allegorize, apply paint, beacon, bead, bedaub, bedizen, begild, bejewel, beribbon, besmear, bespangle, betoken, better, brandish, breathe, brighten, brighten up, bring forth, bring forward, bring into view, bring out, bring to notice, brush on paint, calcimine, clarify, clear, clear up, coat, color, complexion, construe, cover, crack, dab, dangle, daub, decipher, decorate, deep-dye, define, demonstrate, demythologize, develop, diamond, dip, disclose, display, distemper, divulge, double-dye, dramatize, dye, edify, elucidate, embellish, emblazon, embody, enact, enamel, engild, engrave, enlighten, ennoble, euhemerize, evidence, evince, exalt, exemplify, exhibit, explain, explain away, explicate, expose to view, exposit, expound, express, face, fast-dye, feather, figure, filigree, finish, fire, flag, flaunt, flood with light, floodlight, flounce, flourish, flower, fresco, garland, gem, gild, give reason for, give sign, give the meaning, give token, glaze, gloss, grain, highlight, hue, ignite, illume, illumine, illustrate, imbue, improve, incarnate, indicate, ingrain, interpret, irradiate, japan, jewel, kindle, lacquer, lay on color, light, light up, lighten, luminate, make clear, make plain, manifest, materialize, mature, mean, ornament, overshine, paint, parade, parget, perfect, perform, pigment, plume, polish, popularize, present, prime, produce, rationalize, refine, relume, relumine, represent, reveal, ribbon, roll out, set forth, shade, shadow, shed light upon, shellac, shine upon, show, show forth, show how, show the way, simplify, slop on paint, smear, solve, spangle, spell out, spotlight, stain, stipple, throw light upon, tinct, tincture, tinge, tinsel, tint, token, tone, trot out, undercoat, unfold, unlock, unravel, uplift, varnish, wash, wave, whitewash, wreathe

ROGET THESAURUS

illuminate

Ornament

VB ornament, overlay with ornament, overcharge, smell of the lamp, ornament, embellish, enrich, decorate, adorn, bead, beautify, adonize, smarten, furbish, polish, gild, varnish, whitewash, enamel, japan, lacquer, paint, grain, garnish, trim, dizen, bedizen, prink, prank, trick out, fig out, deck, bedeck, dight, bedight, array, begawd, titivate, dress, dress up, spangle, bespangle, powder, embroider, work, chase, emboss, fret, emblazon, illuminate, illustrate, become.

Light

VB shine, glow, glitter, glister, glisten, twinkle, gleam, flare, flare up, glare, beam, shimmer, glimmer, flicker, sparkle, scintillate, coruscate, flash, blaze, be bright, reflect light, daze, dazzle, bedazzle, radiate, shoot out beams, fulgurate, clear up, brighten, lighten, enlighten, levin, light, light up, irradiate, shine upon, give out a light, hang out a light, cast light upon, cast light in, throw light upon, throw light in, shed light upon, shed luster upon, illume, illumine, illuminate, relume, strike a light, kindle.

Luminary

VB illuminate.

Color

VB color, dye, tinge, stain, tint, tinct, paint, wash, ingrain, grain, illuminate, emblazon, bedizen, imbue, paint.