irradiate
to shed rays of light upon; illuminate.
to illumine intellectually or spiritually.
to brighten as if with light.
to radiate (light, illumination, etc.).
to heat with radiant energy.
to treat by exposure to radiation, as of ultraviolet light.
to expose to radiation.
Archaic.
to emit rays; shine.
to become radiant.
irradiated; bright.
Origin of irradiate
1Other words from irradiate
- ir·ra·di·at·ing·ly, adverb
- ir·ra·di·a·tive, adjective
- ir·ra·di·a·tor, noun
- non·ir·ra·di·at·ed, adjective
- un·ir·ra·di·at·ed, adjective
- un·ir·ra·di·a·tive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use irradiate in a sentence
A sprite of a child entered; a perfect sunbeam irradiating the whole room.
The Millionaire Baby | Anna Katharine GreenI'm sure Mr. James could, write a novel of Menlo Park; he just revels in irradiating nothing with genius.
The Californians | Gertrude Franklin Horn AthertonWith a flicker of hope irradiating his features, Cap'n Sproul inquired for details.
The Skipper and the Skipped | Holman DayThe afternoon sun shines brightly against the bathing pavilion, irradiating its red and yellow brick.
A Midsummer Drive Through The Pyrenees | Edwin Asa DixShe stood in the open doorway and the sunlight streamed through it, irradiating her wonderful beauty.
The Sun Maid | Evelyn Raymond
British Dictionary definitions for irradiate
/ (ɪˈreɪdɪˌeɪt) /
(tr) physics to subject to or treat with light or other electromagnetic radiation or with beams of particles
(tr) to expose (food) to electromagnetic radiation to kill bacteria and retard deterioration
(tr) to make clear or bright intellectually or spiritually; illumine
a less common word for radiate (def. 1)
(intr) obsolete to become radiant
Derived forms of irradiate
- irradiative, adjective
- irradiator, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for irradiate
[ ĭ-rā′dē-āt′ ]
To expose to or treat with radiation. For example, meat sold as food is often irradiated with x-rays or other radiation to kill bacteria; uranium 238 can be irradiated with neutrons to create fissionable plutonium 239.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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