radiate

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin radiatus, past participle of radiare (“to radiate, furnish with spokes, give out rays, radiate, shine”), from radius (“a spoke, ray”).

verb

  1. To extend, send or spread out from a center like radii.
    Crewe North Motive Power Depot is to be modernised completely. This includes the provision of a new coaling plant, ash handling plant, and two new locomotive sheds of the latest roundhouse type, each with 32 roads radiating from a 70-ft. dia. turntable. 1948 November and December, “Crewe M.P.D. to be Modernised”, in Railway Magazine, page 372
    Oban is not a terminus; its routes radiate by sea, rail and road. 1994, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Parliamentary Debates
    Doncaster is a rail hub in every sense. Passenger lines radiate in six directions, there are freight lines that bypass the station, extensive freight yards, a major works, and a rolling stock depot. May 19 2021, Philip Haigh, “Doncaster enhancements relying on DfT approval”, in RAIL, number 931, page 30
  2. (transitive) To emit rays or waves.
    The stove radiates heat.
  3. (intransitive) To come out or proceed in rays or waves.
    The heat radiates from a stove.
    Light radiates from luminous bodies directly to our eyes. 1706, John Locke, Elements of Natural Philosophy
    She raised her head, and carefully opened her eyes again, staring directly into the orange glow radiating through the thick glass. 1988, Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, William Heinemann Ltd, page 139
  4. (transitive) To illuminate.
  5. To expose to ionizing radiation, such as by radiography.
  6. (transitive) To manifest oneself in a glowing manner.
  7. (ecology, intransitive) to spread into new habitats, migrate.

adj

  1. Radiating from a center; having rays or parts diverging from a center; radiated.
    a radiate crystal
  2. Surrounded by rays, such as the head of a saint in a religious picture; (heraldry) radiant.
    […] and (2) the radiate or Eastern crown, usually five rays being shown. The see of Ely bears the apocryphal coat of St. Ethelreda: gules, three open crowns or. Azure, three open crowns or, are the arms of[…] 1915, Guy Cadogan Rothery, A. B. C. of Heraldry, page 240
    On a wreath of the colors argent and tenné four lightning flashes barbed radiate pilewise of the first, a Roman helm or garnished gules. 2005, Rebecca R. Raines, Signal Corps, Department of the Army, page 117
  3. (botany) Having parts radiating from the center, like the petals in many flowers.
  4. (botany) Consisting of a disc in which the florets are tubular.
  5. (biology) Having radial symmetry, like a seastar.
  6. (zoology) Belonging to the Radiata.

noun

  1. (zoology) One of the Radiata.

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