illuminate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb make lighter or brighter
    light; illumine; light up; illume.
    • This lamp lightens the room a bit
  2. verb make free from confusion or ambiguity; make clear
    crystallise; straighten out; elucidate; clear; clear up; crystallize; sort out; crystalise; shed light on; crystalize; enlighten.
    • Could you clarify these remarks?
    • Clear up the question of who is at fault
  3. verb add embellishments and paintings to (medieval manuscripts)

WordNet

Il*lu"mi*nate transitive verb
Etymology
L. illuminatus, p.p. of illuminare; pref. il- in + luminare to enlighten, fr. lumen light. See Luminous, and cf. Illume, Illumine, Enlimn, Limn.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Illuminated ; present participle & verbal noun Illuminating
Definitions
  1. To make light; to throw light on; to supply with light, literally or figuratively; to brighten.
  2. To light up; to decorate with artificial lights, as a building or city, in token of rejoicing or respect.
  3. To adorn, as a book or page with borders, initial letters, or miniature pictures in colors and gold, as was done in manuscripts of the Middle Ages.
  4. To make plain or clear; to dispel the obscurity to by knowledge or reason; to explain; to elucidate; as, to illuminate a text, a problem, or a duty.
Il*lu"mi*nate intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To light up in token or rejoicing.
Il*lu"mi*nate adjective
Etymology
L. illuminatus, p.p.
Definitions
  1. Enlightened. Bp. Hall.
Il*lu"mi*nate noun
Definitions
  1. One who enlightened; esp., a pretender to extraordinary light and knowledge.

Webster 1913