irradiation Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun the condition of being exposed to radiation
  2. noun a column of light (as from a beacon)
    shaft; ray of light; shaft of light; beam; beam of light; light beam; ray.
  3. noun (physiology) the spread of sensory neural impulses in the cortex
  4. noun the apparent enlargement of a bright object when viewed against a dark background
  5. noun (Pavolvian conditioning) the elicitation of a conditioned response by stimulation similar but not identical to the original stimulus
  6. noun (medicine) the treatment of disease (especially cancer) by exposure to a radioactive substance
    radiotherapy; radiation therapy; radiation; actinotherapy.

WordNet

Ir*ra`di*a"tion noun
Etymology
Cf. F. irradiation.
Definitions
  1. Act of irradiating, or state of being irradiated.
  2. Illumination; irradiance; brilliancy. Sir W. Scott.
  3. Fig.: Mental light or illumination. Sir M. Hale.
  4. (Opt.) The apparent enlargement of a bright object seen upon a dark ground, due to the fact that the portions of the retina around the image are stimulated by the intense light; as when a dark spot on a white ground appears smaller, or a white spot on a dark ground larger, than it really is, esp. when a little out of focus.

Webster 1913