illuminate

¹il·lu·mi·nate

adjective \i-ˈlü-mə-nət\

Definition of ILLUMINATE

1

archaic : brightened with light

2

archaic : intellectually or spiritually enlightened

First Known Use of ILLUMINATE

15th century

Rhymes with ILLUMINATE

acuminate, aluminate

²il·lu·mi·nate

transitive verb \-ˌnāt\

il·lu·mi·nat·edil·lu·mi·nat·ing

Definition of ILLUMINATE

1

a : to enlighten spiritually or intellectually

b (1) : to supply or brighten with light (2) : to make luminous or shining

c archaic : to set alight

d : to subject to radiation

2

a : to make clear : elucidate

b : to bring to the fore : highlight <a crisis can illuminate how interdependent we all are>

3

: to make illustrious or resplendent

4

: to decorate (as a manuscript) with gold or silver or brilliant colors or with often elaborate designs or miniature pictures

— il·lu·mi·nat·ing·ly \-ˌnā-tiŋ-lē\ adverb

— il·lu·mi·na·tor \-ˌnā-tər\ noun

Examples of ILLUMINATE

1. the part of the moon illuminated by the sun
2. A university study has illuminated the problem.

Origin of ILLUMINATE

Middle English, from Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare, from in- + luminare to light up, from lumin-, lumen light — more at luminary

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ILLUMINATE

Synonyms

bathe, beacon, emblaze, illume, illumine, irradiate, light, lighten

Antonyms

blacken, darken, obfuscate

Related Words

brighten; beam, beat (down), radiate, shine; enhalo, halo; floodlight; highlight, spotlight; blaze, burn, fire, flame, glare, glow, ignite, incinerate, kindle; bedazzle, blind, daze, dazzle; gleam, glisten, glitter

Near Antonyms

dim, dull, obscure; cover, shroud, veil; douse (also dowse), extinguish, put out, quench, snuff (out)

Rhymes with ILLUMINATE

abbreviate, abominate, accelerate, accentuate, accommodate, acculturate, accumulate, adjudicate, adulterate, affiliate, agglomerate, alienate, alleviate, alliterate, amalgamate, ameliorate, amyl nitrate, annihilate, annunciate, anticipate, apostolate, appreciate, appropriate, approximate, arpeggiate, articulate, asphyxiate, assassinate, asseverate, assimilate, associate, at any rate, attenuate, authenticate, barbiturate, bicarbonate, calumniate, capacitate, capitulate, catholicate, certificate, coagulate, coelenterate, collaborate, commemorate, commiserate, communicate, compassionate, concatenate, conciliate, confabulate, confederate, conglomerate, congratulate, consolidate, contaminate, cooperate, coordinate, corroborate, deactivate, debilitate, decapitate, decelerate, decerebrate, deconcentrate, deconsecrate, decorticate, decrepitate, de-escalate, defibrinate, defoliate, degenerate, deliberate, delineate, demodulate, denominate, depopulate, depreciate, deracinate, deregulate, desegregate, desiderate, detoxicate, devaluate, diaconate, dilapidate, discriminate, disintegrate, disseminate, dissimulate, dissociate, domesticate, effectuate, ejaculate, elaborate, electroplate, eliminate, elucidate, emaciate, emancipate, emasculate, encapsulate, enumerate, enunciate, episcopate, equivocate, eradicate, etiolate, evacuate, evaluate, evaporate, eventuate, eviscerate, exacerbate, exaggerate, exasperate, excited state, excogitate, excoriate, exfoliate, exhilarate, exonerate, expatiate, expatriate, expectorate, expostulate, expropriate, extenuate, exterminate, extrapolate, facilitate, felicitate, fish or cut bait, garrison state, gesticulate, habilitate, habituate, hallucinate, humiliate, hydrogenate, hypothecate, impersonate, inactivate, inaugurate, incarcerate, incinerate, incorporate, incriminate, indoctrinate, inebriate, infatuate, infuriate, ingratiate, ingurgitate, initiate, inoculate, inseminate, insinuate, instantiate, intercalate, interpolate, interrelate, interrogate, intimidate, intoxicate, invalidate, investigate, invigorate, irradiate, Italianate, Korea Strait, lanceolate, legitimate, luxuriate, mandarinate, manipulate, matriarchate, matriculate, Merthiolate, necessitate, negotiate, noncandidate, obliterate, officiate, Orange Free State, orientate, originate, oxygenate, participate, particulate, patriarchate, patriciate, perambulate, peregrinate, perpetuate, pontificate, precipitate, predestinate, predominate, prefabricate, premeditate, preponderate, prevaricate, procrastinate, prognosticate, proliferate, propitiate, proportionate, quadruplicate, quintuplicate, reciprocate, recriminate, recuperate, redecorate, reduplicate, reeducate, refrigerate, regenerate, regurgitate, reincarnate, reintegrate, reiterate, rejuvenate, remunerate, repatriate, repudiate, resuscitate, retaliate, reticulate, revaluate, reverberate, scholasticate, second estate, self-flagellate, self-immolate, self-pollinate, seventy-eight, sextuplicate, Singapore Strait, sophisticate, subordinate, substantiate, syllabicate, tergiversate, transliterate, triangulate, vanity plate, variegate, vaticinate, vituperate, vociferate

³il·lu·mi·nate

noun \-nət\

Definition of ILLUMINATE

archaic

: one having or claiming unusual enlightenment

First Known Use of ILLUMINATE

1600