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Illuminate vs Radiant - What's the difference?

illuminate | radiant |

As nouns the difference between illuminate and radiant

is that illuminate is someone thought to have an unusual degree of enlightenment while radiant is a point source from which radiation is emitted.

As adjectives the difference between illuminate and radiant

is that illuminate is (obsolete) enlightened while radiant is radiating light and/or heat.

As a verb illuminate

is to shine light on something.

illuminate

English

Verb

(illuminat)
  • To shine light on something.
  • To decorate something with lights.
  • To clarify or make something understandable.
  • To decorate the page of a manuscript book with ornamental designs.
  • (figurative) To make spectacular.
  • * {{quote-news
  • , year=2012 , date=June 2 , author= Phil McNulty , title=England 1-0 Belgium , work=BBC Sport citation , page= , passage=Hodgson's approach may not illuminate proceedings in Poland and Ukraine but early evidence suggests they will be tough to break down.}}
  • To glow; to light up.
  • * 1994 , Sylvia Carlson, ?Verne Carlson, Professional Cameraman's Handbook (ISBN 024080080X), page 494:
  • Red diode in button illuminates when camera runs at speed set in five-digit speed selector.
  • * 2011'/'''2012 , "Spectrum", written by Florence Welch and Paul Epworth, performed by (Florence and the Machine), released on the album ''Ceremonials (2011):
  • Say my name / and every color illuminates. / We are shining /
  • To be exposed to light.
  • (military) To direct a (radar) beam toward.
  • Synonyms

    * *

    Derived terms

    * transilluminate * illuminator

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Someone thought to have an unusual degree of enlightenment.
  • Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (obsolete) enlightened
  • (Bishop Hall)
    ----

    radiant

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Radiating light and/or heat.
  • :
  • Emitted as radiation.
  • Beaming with vivacity and happiness.
  • :
  • *
  • *:His sister, Mrs. Gerard, stood there in carriage gown and sables, radiant with surprise. ¶ “Phil?!  You?!   Exactly like you, Philip, to come strolling in from the antipodes—dear fellow?!” recovering from the fraternal embrace and holding both lapels of his coat in her gloved hands.
  • Emitting or proceeding as if from a center.
  • (lb) Giving off rays; said of a bearing.
  • :
  • (lb) Having a ray-like appearance, like the large marginal flowers of certain umbelliferous plants; said also of the cluster which has such marginal flowers.
  • Noun

    (en noun)
  • A point source from which radiation is emitted.
  • (astronomy) The apparent origin, in the night sky, of a meteor shower.
  • A straight line proceeding from a given point, or fixed pole, about which it is conceived to revolve.
  • Anagrams

    * ----