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illuminate

Syllabification: (il·lu·mi·nate)
Pronunciation: /iˈlo͞oməˌnāt/
Translate illuminate | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of illuminate

verb

  • 1 [with object] light up:a flash of lightning illuminated the house figurativehis face was illuminated by a smile
  • decorate (a building or structure) with lights for a special occasion.
  • 2 (often as adjective illuminated) decorate (a page or initial letter in a manuscript) with gold, silver, or colored designs.
  • 3 (usually as adjective illuminating) help to clarify or explain (a subject or matter):a most illuminating discussion

Derivatives

illuminatingly

adverb

illuminative

Pronunciation: /-ˌnātiv, -nətiv/
adjective

illuminator

Pronunciation: /-ˌnātər/
noun

Origin:

late Middle English: from Latin illuminat- 'illuminated', from the verb illuminare, from in- 'upon' + lumen, lumin- 'light'

illuminate in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of illuminate in the British & World English dictionary
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