| Title | illuminate | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Text |
Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary il·lu·mi·nate
DATE 15th century 1. archaic : brightened with light 2. archaic : intellectually or spiritually enlightened
(-nat·ed ; -nat·ing) ETYMOLOGY Middle English, from Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare, from in- + luminare to light up, from lumin-, lumen light — more at luminary DATE 15th century 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
DATE 1600 archaic : one having or claiming unusual enlightenment Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary-牛津双解-OALD7 illuminate il·lu·min·ate / i5lu:mineit / (also less frequent il·lu·mine) verb[VN] 1. to shine light on sth 照明；照亮；照射: Floodlights illuminated the stadium. 泛光灯照亮了体育场。 The earth is illuminated by the sun. 太阳照亮地球。 2. (formal) to make sth clearer or easier to understand 阐明；解释 SYN clarify :
This text illuminates the philosopher's early thinking. 这篇课文解释了这位哲学家的早期思想。 3. to decorate a street, building, etc. with bright lights for a special occasion 用彩灯装饰 4. (literary) to make a person's face, etc. seem bright and excited 使容光焕发 SYN light up :
Her smile illuminated her entire being. 微笑使她整个人神采奕奕。 Oxford Collocations Dictionary for Students of English illuminate verb 1 give light to sth ADV. brightly, clearly | dimly, faintly, softly The room was dimly illuminated by the soft glow of his bedside lamp. | briefly | suddenly 2 make sth clear ADV. greatly, vividly an incident which vividly illuminated the problems we faced VERB + ILLUMINATE help (to) The study of the present also helps to illuminate the past. Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Thesaurus-11th Edition v. Function: verb 1 to supply with physical light FF1C;a room dimly illuminated by firelightFF1E; Synonyms: illume, illumine, light, lighten Related Words: brighten; irradiate; floodlight, highlight, spotlight; fire, ignite, kindle Contrasted Words: blur, cloud, darken, dim, dull, obscure, pale 2 to supply with spiritual or intellectual light FF1C;the worth of a truly illuminating bookFF1E; Synonyms: edify, enlighten, illume, illumine, improve, irradiate, uplift Related Words: better, improve; ennoble, exalt, refine; finish, mature, perfect, polish Contrasted Words: becloud, cloud, darken, obfuscate, obscure, overshadow, shadow 3 Synonyms: CLARIFY 2, clear, clear up, elucidate, explain, illustrate Related Words: construe, define, dramatize, expound, express, gloss, interpret Idioms: shed light on (or upon) Contrasted Words: baffle, confound, confuse, mystify, pose, puzzle, stump Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged il·lu·mi·nate I. \-nə̇t, usu -nə̇d.+V\ adjective Etymology: Middle English, from Latin illuminatus, past participle 1. archaic : made bright with light < leaves illuminate with autumnal hues — H.W.Longfellow > 2. archaic : being or claiming to be intellectually or culturally or spiritually enlightened to a superior extent II. \ə̇ˈlüməˌnāt also ə̇lˈyü-; usu -ād.+V\ transitive verb Etymology: Latin illuminatus, past participle of illuminare, from in- in (II) + luminare to light up, from Latin lumin-, lumen light — more at luminary 1. a. (1) : to give physical light to : supply with light : light up < illuminated a picture that hung on the wall — G.B.Shaw > : make bright with light : bathe in light < destroyers illuminate the little boats with their searchlights — H.W.Baldwin > (2) : to light up artificially with usually brilliant lights or decorative lighting effects < the city was illuminated in celebration of the victory > < the fountains are beautifully illuminated at night > (3) : to make luminous or shining < the beautiful smile that slowly illuminates her face — Vernon Jarratt > b. : to give spiritual or intellectual light to : enlighten spiritually or intellectually < bought a couple of books for the train to Edinburgh, but I can't say I was greatly illuminated — H.J.Laski > c. archaic : to set alight : kindle < the butler … illuminated the antique Gothic chandelier — W.M.Thackeray > 2. : to make clear : clear up : remove obscurity from : elucidate < worked out and illuminated broad principles of constitutional interpretation — W.P.M.Kennedy > < historical insight clarifies and illuminates the critical activity of a period — C.I.Glicksberg > 3. : to make illustrious or glorious < brilliant achievements that illuminate that era > : make resplendent < splendid tapestries and paintings illuminated the walls > 4. : to decorate (as a letter or part of a page) with gold or silver or brilliant colors or with often elaborate designs or miniature pictures < beautiful illuminated manuscripts of the middle ages > III. \-_nə̇t, usu -nə̇d.+V\ noun (-s) Etymology: New Latin illuminati, plural archaic : a person possessing or claiming to possess unusual enlightenment IV. transitive verb : to subject to radiation |
Learn with these flashcards. Click next, previous, or up to navigate to more flashcards for this subject.
Next card: Illimitable noun adjective limited the merriam-webster's collegiate incapable
Previous card: Immemorial from adjective french memory existing probably middle
Up to card list: English learning