v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Illuminated p. pr. & vb. n. Illuminating ] [ L. illuminatus, p. p. of illuminare; pref. il- in + luminare to enlighten, fr. lumen light. See Luminous, and cf. Illume, Illumine, Enlimn, Limn. ] 1. To make light; to throw light on; to supply with light, literally or figuratively; to brighten. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. To light up; to decorate with artificial lights, as a building or city, in token of rejoicing or respect. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. To adorn, as a book or page with borders, initial letters, or miniature pictures in colors and gold, as was done in manuscripts of the Middle Ages. [ 1913 Webster ]

4. To make plain or clear; to dispel the obscurity to by knowledge or reason; to explain; to elucidate; as, to illuminate a text, a problem, or a duty. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To light up in token or rejoicing. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. illuminatus, p. p. ] Enlightened. Bp. Hall. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. One who is enlightened; esp., a pretender to extraordinary light and knowledge. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. [ p. p. of illuminate. ] 1. rendered luminous by rays of light striking and reflecting; -- used especially of illumination by artificial light.
Syn. -- lighted. [ PJC ]

2. Adorned with pictorial or graphical designs, as a book or page with borders, initial letters, or miniature pictures in colors and gold, as was done in manuscripts of the Middle Ages; as, an illuminated manuscript. [ 1913 Webster ]