illuminate

Etymology

From Middle English illuminaten, borrowed from Latin illūminātum, supine of illūminō (“lighten, light up, show off”), from in + lūminō (“light up”), from lūmen (“light”). Cognate with Old English lȳman (“to glow, shine”). More at leam.

verb

1. (transitive) To shine light on something.
   A light that is one foot away from the subject's face will completely illuminate the face, but leave the rest of the body softer and darker. 2006, Michael Grecco, Lighting and the Dramatic Portrait, Amphoto Books, page 40
2. (transitive) To decorate something with lights.
3. (transitive, figurative) To clarify or make something understandable.
4. (transitive) To decorate the page of a manuscript book with ornamental designs.
5. (transitive, figurative) To make spectacular.
   Hodgson's approach may not illuminate proceedings in Poland and Ukraine but early evidence suggests they will be tough to break down. June 2, 2012, Phil McNulty, “England 1-0 Belgium”, in BBC Sport
6. (intransitive) To glow; to light up.
   Red diode in button illuminates when camera runs at speed set in five-digit speed selector. 1994, Sylvia Carlson, Verne Carlson, Professional Cameraman's Handbook, page 494
   Say my name / and every color illuminates. / We are shining / […] 2011/2012, "Spectrum", written by Florence Welch and Paul Epworth, performed by Florence and the Machine, released on the album Ceremonials (2011)
7. (intransitive) To be exposed to light.
8. (transitive, military) To direct a radar beam toward.

noun

1. Someone thought to have an unusual degree of enlightenment.

adj

1. (obsolete) enlightened
   February 28 1630, Joseph Hall, The Hypocrite do ye see an illuminate elder of the anabaptists rapt in divine ecstasies?