il·lu·mi·nate [ i lmi nàyt ](past and past participleil·lu·mi·nat·ed, present participleil·lu·mi·nat·ing, 3rd person present singularil·lu·mi·nates)
verb
Definition:
1. transitive and intransitive verb shine light on somebody or something: to make somebody or something visible or bright with light, or be lit up
2. transitive verb decorate something with lights: to decorate something with lights for a celebration
3. transitive verb clarify something: to make something easier to understand
4. transitive verb cause somebody to look happy: to make something, especially somebody's face, look happy and animated
5. transitive and intransitive verb enlighten somebody: to provide somebody with knowledge or with intellectual or spiritual enlightenment
(
literary
)
(
often passive
)
6. transitive verb printing add colored elements to page: to add colored letters, illustrations, or designs to a manuscript or the borders of a page
[15th century. < Latin illuminat-, past participle of illuminare "light up" < lumin- "light"]
