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.

Did You Know?

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

Needless to say, Smith, who pulled back the curtain on her skincare routine for Vogue's Beauty Secrets series, is an ideal canvas, with her luminous complexion and chameleonic tendencies above the neck. — Lauren Valenti, Vogue, "Jorja Smith Is the New Face of Dior Beauty," 29 Apr. 2019 Throughout the tower, Hogan’s light art installations have been interwoven to create many luminous sculptural moments. — First Light, The Seattle Times, "Embracing city life at new art-filled condo tower," 29 Mar. 2019 Flower Beauty Light Illusion Liquid Foundation This lightweight foundation from Drew Barrymore's affordable beauty line offers buildable coverage with a luminous finish — what's not to love? — Allure, "The 17 Best Drugstore Foundations for All Your Coverage Needs," 6 Sep. 2018 Its luminous images keep glowing long after the movie has finished. — Lindsey Bahr, The Seattle Times, "AP Oscar predictions: What will win, what should win," 20 Feb. 2019 Our clubby library has a luminous David Hicks wallpaper on the ceiling and features a fringed sofa in a decadent Proustian velvet. — Simon Doonan, ELLE Decor, "Jonathan Adler and Simon Doonan Give Their Greenwich Village Home a Glitz Makeover," 8 Mar. 2019 The luminous Billie Piper plays Her, a successful journalist unstrung by infertility. — Alexis Soloski, New York Times, "17 Plays and Musicals to Go to in NYC This Weekend," 22 Mar. 2018 What motivates Alfonso in the first place, and what is his relationship to Despina, the ladies’ maid? (Despina will be sung, in an intriguing turn, by the luminous Broadway star Kelli O’Hara, expert at mixing ingenuous light and dusky melancholy. — The New York Times, New York Times, "22 Musicals, Plays, Concerts, Dances and Festivals You Can’t Miss This Spring," 20 Feb. 2018 Giorgio Armani celebrity makeup artist Tim Quinn suggests using the SK-II Facial Treatment Mask ($17) before applying your makeup for a more luminous canvas. — Sam Neibart, Harper's BAZAAR, "The Ultimate Holiday Survival Guide," 13 Dec. 2017

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.