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luminous

 - 5 dictionary results

lu⋅mi⋅nous

[loo-muh-nuhs]
–adjective
1. radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright.
2. lighted up or illuminated; well-lighted: the luminous ballroom.
3. brilliant intellectually; enlightened or enlightening, as a writer or a writer's works: a luminous concept; luminous prose.
4. clear; readily intelligible: a concise, luminous report.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L lūminōsus. See lumen, -ous


lu⋅mi⋅nous⋅ly, adverb
lu⋅mi⋅nous⋅ness, noun


1. lucid, radiant, resplendent, brilliant. 3. bright, intelligent. 4. understandable, perspicuous, lucid.


1, 2. dark. 3. stupid. 4. obscure.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
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lu·mi·nous   (lōō'mə-nəs)   
adj.  
  1. Emitting light, especially emitting self-generated light.

  2. Full of light; illuminated. See Synonyms at bright.

    1. Easily comprehended; clear: luminous prose.

    2. Enlightened and intelligent; inspiring: luminous ideas.


[Middle English, from Old French lumineux, from Latin lūminōsus, from lūmen, lūmin-, light; see leuk- in Indo-European roots.]
lu'mi·nous·ly adv., lu'mi·nous·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

luminous 
1432, "full of light," from L. luminosus "shining, full of light," from lumen (gen. luminis) "light," related to lucere "to shine" (see light (n.)).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: lu·mi·nous
Pronunciation: 'lü-m&-n&s
Function: adjective
1 : emitting or reflecting usually steady, suffused,or glowing light
2 : of or relating to light or to luminous flux
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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luminous lu·mi·nous (l&oomacr;'mə-nəs)
adj.
Emitting light, especially emitting self-generated light.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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