illuminate

Meanings

1. 1
   verb

   To shine light on something.

   Nero illuminated his gardens with live Christians soaked in tar, and we were now treated to a similar spectacle, probably for the first time since his day, only happily our lamps were not living ones.

2. 2
   verb

   To clarify or make something understandable.

   The situation, as it was, made it more difficult for him to leave. Yet it illuminated the very reasons why he had to go.

3. 3
   verb

   To make spectacular.

   Hodgson's approach may not illuminate proceedings in Poland and Ukraine but early evidence suggests they will be tough to break down.

4. 4
   verb

   To glow; to light up.

   Red diode in button illuminates when camera runs at speed set in five-digit speed selector.

5. 5
   adj

   Enlightened, illuminated, made bright.

   February 28 1630, Joseph Hall, The Hypocrite do ye see an illuminate elder of the anabaptists rapt in divine ecstasies?

6. 6
   verb

   make lighter or brighter

7. 7
   verb

   make free from confusion or ambiguity

8. 8
   verb

   add embellishments and paintings to (medieval manuscripts)

Etymology

From Middle English illuminaten, borrowed from Latin illūminātus, perfect passive participle of illūminō (“lighten, light up, show off”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from in + lūminō (“light up”), from lūmen (“light”). Cognate with Old English lȳman (“to glow, shine”). More at leam.