a. [ L. luminosus, fr. lumen light: cf. F. lumineux. See Luminary, Illuminate. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. Shining; emitting or reflecting light; brilliant; bright; as, the is a luminous body; a luminous color. [ 1913 Webster ]

Fire burneth wood, making it . . . luminous. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

The mountains lift . . . their lofty and luminous heads. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Illuminated; full of light; bright; as, many candles made the room luminous. [ 1913 Webster ]

Up the staircase moved a luminous space in the darkness. Longfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Enlightened; intelligent; also, clear; intelligible; as, a luminous mind. “ Luminous eloquence.” Macaulay. “ A luminous statement.” Brougham. [ 1913 Webster ]

Luminous paint, a paint made up with some phosphorescent substance, as sulphide of calcium, which after exposure to a strong light is luminous in the dark for a time. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- Lucid; clear; shining; perspicuous. [ 1913 Webster ]

-- Lu"mi*nous*ly, adv. -- Lu"mi*nous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. the quality of being luminous; emitting or reflecting light.
Syn. -- luminosity, luminance, light. [ WordNet 1.5 ]