Dictionary
1illuminate
adjective il·lu·mi·nate \i-ˈlü-mə-nət\
Definition of ILLUMINATE
1
archaic : brightened with light
2
archaic : intellectually or spiritually enlightened
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First Known Use of ILLUMINATE
15th century
2illuminate
verb il·lu·mi·nate \-ˌnāt\
: to supply (something) with light : to shine light on (something)
: to make (something) clear and easier to understand
il·lu·mi·nat·edil·lu·mi·nat·ing
Full Definition of ILLUMINATE
transitive verb
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
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
See illuminate defined for English-language learners
See illuminate defined for kids
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
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
3illuminate
noun il·lu·mi·nate \-nət\
Definition of ILLUMINATE
archaic : one having or claiming unusual enlightenment
First Known Use of ILLUMINATE
1600
ILLUMINATING Defined for Kids
illuminate
verb il·lu·mi·nate \i-ˈlü-mə-ˌnāt\
il·lu·mi·nat·edil·lu·mi·nat·ing
Definition of ILLUMINATE for Kids
1
: to supply with light : light up <He clutched Rose as a dazzling blast illuminated the lobby… — Brian Selznick, Wonderstruck>
2
: to make clear : explain <His speech illuminated the subject.>
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