luminous Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. adjective satellite softly bright or radiant
    lucent; lambent; aglow.
    • a house aglow with lights
    • glowing embers
    • lambent tongues of flame
    • the lucent moon
    • a sky luminous with stars

WordNet

Lu"mi*nous adjective
Etymology
L. luminosus, fr. lumen light: cf. F. lumineux. See Luminary, Illuminate.
Definitions
  1. Shining; emitting or reflecting light; brilliant; bright; as, the is a luminous body; a luminous color.
    Fire burneth wood, making it . . . luminous. Bacon.
    The mountains lift . . . their lofty and luminous heads. Longfellow.
  2. Illuminated; full of light; bright; as, many candles made the room luminous.
    Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the darkness. Longfellow.
  3. Enlightened; intelligent; also, clear; intelligible; as, a luminous mind. " Luminous eloquence." Macaulay. " A luminous statement." Brougham. Syn. -- Lucid; clear; shining; perspicuous. -- Lu"mi*nous*ly, adv. -- Lu"mi*nous*ness, n.

Webster 1913