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

Rhymes with ILLUMINATE

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
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
il·lu·mi·nat·ing·ly \-ˌnā-tiŋ-lē\ adverb
il·lu·mi·na·tor \-ˌnā-tər\ noun

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

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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