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radiant

 - 6 dictionary results

ra⋅di⋅ant

  [rey-dee-uhnt]
Use radiant in a Sentence
–adjective
1. emitting rays of light; shining; bright: the radiant sun; radiant colors.
2. bright with joy, hope, etc.: radiant smiles; a radiant future.
3. Physics. emitted or propagated by radiation.
4. Heraldry.
a. noting a partition line having a series of flamelike indentations formed by ogees joined in zigzags; rayonny.
b. (of a charge, as an ordinary) having an edge or edges so formed.
–noun
5. a point or object from which rays proceed.
6. Astronomy. the point in the heavens from which a shower of meteors appears to radiate.
7. a refractory absorbing and radiating heat from the flames of a gas fireplace or the like.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L radiant- (s. of radiāns, prp. of radiāre to radiate light, shine), equiv. to radi(us) beam, ray (see radius ) + -ant- -ant

Related forms:
ra⋅di⋅ant⋅ly, adverb

Synonyms:
1. beaming, refulgent, resplendent. See bright.

Antonyms:
1. dim.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To radiant
ra·di·ant   (rā'dē-ənt)   
adj.  

  1. Emitting heat or light.

  2. Consisting of or emitted as radiation: radiant heat.

    1. Filled with light; bright.

    2. Glowing; beaming. See Synonyms at bright.

n.  

  1. An object or a point from which light or heat rays are emitted.

  2. Astronomy The apparent celestial origin of a meteoric shower.


[Middle English, from Latin radiāns, radiant-, present participle of radiāre, to radiate; see radiate.]
ra'di·ant·ly adv.
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

radiant 
c.1450, from M.Fr. radiant, from L. radiantem (nom. radians) "shining," prp. of radiare "to beam, shine" (see radiation). Of beauty, etc., first attested 1509. Radiance is 1601, from M.L. radiantia "brightness," from radiare. The verb radiate is attested from 1619.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: ra·di·ant
Pronunciation: 'rAd-E-&nt
Function: adjective
1 : emitted or transmitted by radiation
2 : emitting or relating to radiant heat
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

radiant ra·di·ant (rā'dē-ənt)
adj.

  1. Emitting heat or light.

  2. Consisting of or emitted as radiation.

n.
A point from which light radiates to the eye.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Science Dictionary
radiant   (rā'dē-ənt)  Pronunciation Key 
Adjective  

  1. Transmitting light, heat, or other radiation. Stars, for example, are radiant bodies.

  2. Consisting of or transmitted as radiation.


Noun   The apparent celestial origin of a meteor shower. For example, a point in the constellation Gemini is the radiant of the Geminid meteor shower.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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