Question 1 · Quick check
illuminate
CEFRC1
/ɪˈl(j)umɪneɪt/
verb
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
verb
To light something or make it easier to understand.
- 02
verb
Extra detailTo clarify or make something understandable.
Examples
I use a flashlight to illuminate dark areas.
Men of genius are meteors destined to burn in order to illuminate their century.
At a glance
Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 1
- Citations
- 5
- Synonyms
- 5
Also pronounced
- /ɪˈl(j)umɪnət/
Deep Dive
verb
Extra meaningsTo decorate something with lights.
To shine light on something.
To decorate the page of a manuscript book with ornamental designs.
More examples
In contextI illuminate myself with immensity.
February 28 1630, Joseph Hall, The Hypocrite do ye see an illuminate elder of the anabaptists rapt in divine ecstasies?
Say my name / and every color illuminates. / We are shining / […]
Related
Quick test
Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.
Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.
Nearby
Origin
verb
From Middle English illuminaten, borrowed from Latin illūminātus, perfect passive participle of illūminō (“lighten, light up, show off”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix) for more), from in + lūminō (“light up”), from lūmen (“light”). Cognate with Old English lȳman (“to glow, shine”). More at leam.