Illuminate
verb
To shine light on something.
He used his flashlight to illuminate the dark room.
Often appears as...
- illuminate the room
- illuminate the path
verb
To provide insight or clarity.
The teacher's explanation illuminated the complex topic.
Often appears as...
- illuminate the topic
- illuminate the mystery
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To decorate with lights.
The city was illuminated with thousands of festive lights during the holidays.
Often appears as...
- illuminate the city
- illuminate the tree
verb
To lit up by lighting.
The skyline was illuminated by the setting sun.
Often appears as...
- illuminate the skyline
- illuminate the landscape
Usage tips
Poetic
verb
In historical context or manuscripts, illuminate means to decorate or enlighten with knowledge.
In the Middle Ages Books were illuminated with pictures and ornate lettering.
Often appears as...
- illuminated manuscript
- illuminated text
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
verb
To shine light on something.
He used his flashlight to illuminate the dark room.
Often appears as...
- illuminate the room
- illuminate the path
verb
To provide insight or clarity.
The teacher's explanation illuminated the complex topic.
Often appears as...
- illuminate the topic
- illuminate the mystery
Usage tips
Academic
verb
To decorate with lights.
The city was illuminated with thousands of festive lights during the holidays.
Often appears as...
- illuminate the city
- illuminate the tree
verb
To lit up by lighting.
The skyline was illuminated by the setting sun.
Often appears as...
- illuminate the skyline
- illuminate the landscape
Usage tips
Poetic
verb
In historical context or manuscripts, illuminate means to decorate or enlighten with knowledge.
In the Middle Ages Books were illuminated with pictures and ornate lettering.
Often appears as...
- illuminated manuscript
- illuminated text
Usage tips
Formal
Academic
Definition 1 of 5
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Brightness
Used when talking about actual light shining on objects.
Can you illuminate the sign so we can read it?
Pro Tip 2/3Visibility Increase
To make something visible or prominent with light.
We used spotlights to illuminate the artwork.
Pro Tip 3/3Seeking Attention
Highlighting an area to draw attention or interest.
The guide used a torch to illuminate the cave paintings.
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Brightness
Used when talking about actual light shining on objects.
Can you illuminate the sign so we can read it?
Pro Tip 2/3Visibility Increase
To make something visible or prominent with light.
We used spotlights to illuminate the artwork.
Pro Tip 3/3Seeking Attention
Highlighting an area to draw attention or interest.
The guide used a torch to illuminate the cave paintings.
Pro Tip 1/3Literal Brightness
Used when talking about actual light shining on objects.
Can you illuminate the sign so we can read it?
Pro Tip 2/3Visibility Increase
To make something visible or prominent with light.
We used spotlights to illuminate the artwork.
Pro Tip 3/3Seeking Attention
Highlighting an area to draw attention or interest.
The guide used a torch to illuminate the cave paintings.
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Video examples
Drew Berry: Animations...
And his work illuminated for me what the molecular world inside us is like. So this is a transection through blood. In the top left-hand corner, you've got this yellow-green area. The yellow-green area is the fluid of blood, which is mostly water, but it's also antibodies, sugars, hormones, that kind of thing.
Video examples
How do fish make...
It may be that the size of strongly electric fish allows them to withstand their own shocks, or that the current passes out of their bodies too quickly. Some scientists think that special proteins may shield the electric organs, but the truth is, this is one mystery science still hasn't illuminated.
Video examples
What if 3D printing was...
underneath the reservoir, illuminating with light in the ultraviolet region. Now, the key is that this window in the bottom of this reservoir, it's a composite, it's a very special window. It's not only transparent to light but it's permeable to oxygen. It's got characteristics like a contact lens.
Video examples
The poet who painted...
in the face of what was often a xenophobic and narrow-minded public. As a poet, Apollinaire was passionate about all forms of art and a connoisseur of medieval literature, especially calligraphy and illuminated initials. As a visionary, Apollinaire saw a gap between two artistic institutions.
Video examples
Why is this painting so...
But the painting obscures their struggle to provide food for their household. Even the monarch's advanced age is concealed through the blurring of the mirror. What we do see in the geometric center of the canvas, brightly illuminated by the light from the window,
Video examples
Deep Sea Anglerfish Sex...
which is really characteristic and it's basically this fleshy lump which has lots of bacteria in it, which is able to illuminate and then that attracts in all their prey and they're able to eat it with their incredibly wide mouths.
Video examples
The difference between...
that's quite awkward and uncomfortable to discuss; empower a whole front line, namely friends, to help; and, in the process, improve all of our ability to love better. To do this, it's always important to start by illuminating
Video examples
Jellyfish predate...
or revealing the path of critical molecules. Scientists have used the glow of GFP to watch cancer cells proliferate, track the development of Alzheimer's, and illuminate countless other biological processes.
Video examples
How to take a compliment...
that's what it's like for people so the counterintuitive point that I want to illuminate today is that you can actually be one of the most generous
Video examples
Overview PIPE Exploring...
diaphanous creatures time jellies squids silvery fish creatures that illuminate the deep-sea darkness with their own living white
Video examples
Drew Berry: Animations...
And his work illuminated for me what the molecular world inside us is like. So this is a transection through blood. In the top left-hand corner, you've got this yellow-green area. The yellow-green area is the fluid of blood, which is mostly water, but it's also antibodies, sugars, hormones, that kind of thing.
Video examples
How do fish make...
It may be that the size of strongly electric fish allows them to withstand their own shocks, or that the current passes out of their bodies too quickly. Some scientists think that special proteins may shield the electric organs, but the truth is, this is one mystery science still hasn't illuminated.
Video examples
What if 3D printing was...
underneath the reservoir, illuminating with light in the ultraviolet region. Now, the key is that this window in the bottom of this reservoir, it's a composite, it's a very special window. It's not only transparent to light but it's permeable to oxygen. It's got characteristics like a contact lens.
Video examples
The poet who painted...
in the face of what was often a xenophobic and narrow-minded public. As a poet, Apollinaire was passionate about all forms of art and a connoisseur of medieval literature, especially calligraphy and illuminated initials. As a visionary, Apollinaire saw a gap between two artistic institutions.
Video examples
Why is this painting so...
But the painting obscures their struggle to provide food for their household. Even the monarch's advanced age is concealed through the blurring of the mirror. What we do see in the geometric center of the canvas, brightly illuminated by the light from the window,
Video examples
Deep Sea Anglerfish Sex...
which is really characteristic and it's basically this fleshy lump which has lots of bacteria in it, which is able to illuminate and then that attracts in all their prey and they're able to eat it with their incredibly wide mouths.
Video examples
The difference between...
that's quite awkward and uncomfortable to discuss; empower a whole front line, namely friends, to help; and, in the process, improve all of our ability to love better. To do this, it's always important to start by illuminating
Video examples
Jellyfish predate...
or revealing the path of critical molecules. Scientists have used the glow of GFP to watch cancer cells proliferate, track the development of Alzheimer's, and illuminate countless other biological processes.
Video examples
How to take a compliment...
that's what it's like for people so the counterintuitive point that I want to illuminate today is that you can actually be one of the most generous
Video examples
Overview PIPE Exploring...
diaphanous creatures time jellies squids silvery fish creatures that illuminate the deep-sea darkness with their own living white
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Oprah Winfrey
American Entertainer
My whole reason for creating a network is literally to bring little pieces of light. It's to continue to spread little pieces of light in the world, to illuminate the possibility of the human spirit.
Quote examples
Francis Ford Coppola
American Director
That's part of the requirement for me to be an artist is that you're trying to share your personal existence with others and trying to illuminate modern life, trying to understand life.
Quote examples
Alice Walker
American Author
On a spiritual level, it's as though with my sighted eye I see what's before me, and with my unsighted eye I see what's hidden. It's illuminated life more than darkened it.
Quote examples
Will Smith
American Actor
I've trained myself to illuminate the things in my personality that are likable and to hide and protect the things that are less likeable.
Quote examples
James Baldwin
American Novelist
The questions which one asks oneself begin, at least, to illuminate the world, and become one's key to the experience of others.
Quote examples
Thomas Aquinas
Italian Theologian
Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.
Quote examples
Louis Pasteur
French Scientist
Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.
Quote examples
Viola Davis
American Actress
Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity. Or not.
Quote examples
Harvey Fierstein
American Actor
Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire and motivate.
Quote examples
Faith Salie
American Journalist
Sometimes art helps illuminate science.
Quote examples
Oprah Winfrey
American Entertainer
My whole reason for creating a network is literally to bring little pieces of light. It's to continue to spread little pieces of light in the world, to illuminate the possibility of the human spirit.
Quote examples
Francis Ford Coppola
American Director
That's part of the requirement for me to be an artist is that you're trying to share your personal existence with others and trying to illuminate modern life, trying to understand life.
Quote examples
Alice Walker
American Author
On a spiritual level, it's as though with my sighted eye I see what's before me, and with my unsighted eye I see what's hidden. It's illuminated life more than darkened it.
Quote examples
Will Smith
American Actor
I've trained myself to illuminate the things in my personality that are likable and to hide and protect the things that are less likeable.
Quote examples
James Baldwin
American Novelist
The questions which one asks oneself begin, at least, to illuminate the world, and become one's key to the experience of others.
Quote examples
Thomas Aquinas
Italian Theologian
Better to illuminate than merely to shine, to deliver to others contemplated truths than merely to contemplate.
Quote examples
Louis Pasteur
French Scientist
Science knows no country, because knowledge belongs to humanity, and is the torch which illuminates the world.
Quote examples
Viola Davis
American Actress
Acting is not rocket science, but it is an art form. What you are doing is illuminating humanity. Or not.
Quote examples
Harvey Fierstein
American Actor
Art has the power to transform, to illuminate, to educate, inspire and motivate.
Quote examples
Faith Salie
American Journalist
Sometimes art helps illuminate science.
Example 1 of 10
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