luminous

adjective

lu·mi·nous | \ ˈlü-mə-nəs

Definition of luminous

1a : emitting or reflecting usually steady, suffused, or glowing light luminous objects—the nebula, the stars, the planets— Lincoln La Paz

b : of or relating to light or to luminous flux

2 : bathed in or exposed to steady light luminous with sunlight

3 : clear, enlightening a luminous explanation

4 : shining, illustrious a luminous film star a luminous performance

Other Words from luminous Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym Did you know? More Example Sentences Learn More About luminous

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Choose the Right Synonym for luminous

bright, brilliant, radiant, luminous, lustrous mean shining or glowing with light. bright implies emitting or reflecting a high degree of light. brilliant implies intense often sparkling brightness. radiant stresses the emission or seeming emission of rays of light. luminous implies emission of steady, suffused, glowing light by reflection or in surrounding darkness. lustrous stresses an even, rich light from a surface that reflects brightly without glittering.

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Luminous, like its synonyms radiant, shining, glowing, and lustrous, is generally a positive adjective, especially when it describes something that doesn't literally glow, such as a face, a performance, or a poem. Luminous signs depend on a gas such as neon, krypton, argon, xenon, or radon—and you can use luminous (DayGlo) paint to make your own signs. New technologies have now given us luminous fabrics, which are being used to produce striking or creepy effects in clothing, upholstery, and interior surfaces.

Examples of luminous in a Sentence

I saw the cat's luminous eyes in my car's headlights. a watch with a luminous dial The room was luminous with sunlight.

Recent Examples on the Web The dial is luminous and the marching line is adjustable. — Chris Hachey, BGR, 11 May 2021 LaRocque was luminous, stylish and fun, Paleschic said, adding that her presence set an example for how to manage people and work with others in the newsroom. — Kelli Smith, Dallas News, 5 June 2021 In terms of finding the right products to stand the heat and keep you looking luminous, there's no more bulletproof strategy than looking to the pros. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, 4 June 2021 Calathea orbifolia has luminous, bright green leaves with lighter green stripes across the surface. — Southern Living, 4 June 2021 Sophie Rivera, a photographer who won acclaim making luminous portraits of Puerto Rican New Yorkers and other city dwellers before turning the camera on herself, died on May 22 in the Bronx. — New York Times, 4 June 2021 Sophie Rivera, a photographer who won acclaim making luminous portraits of Puerto Rican New Yorkers and other city dwellers before turning the camera on herself, died May 22 in the Bronx. — BostonGlobe.com, 4 June 2021 Throughout Here, a luminous collection of 27 poems, Szymborska indulges in fanciful thought experiments and imagines surreal conversations (with her younger self, with an idea, with her own memory). — The Atlantic Culture Desk, The Atlantic, 28 May 2021 Among the superior novelty color coneflowers are Sante Fe, which is a coral red; Kismet Raspberry, with luminous raspberry-pink blooms, and Postman, with oversized cones and blooms that age from crimson to watermelon pink. — Adrian Higgins, Washington Post, 27 May 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'luminous.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.