Dictionary

irradiate en · ADJ · etymology 1

Pronunciation

• /ɪˈɹeɪdɪət/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (Southern-England) audio

Etymology

From Middle English irradiate (“illuminated, shining”), borrowed from Medieval Latin irradiātus, perfect passive participle of irradiō, from ir- (“against; into; on, upon”) + radiō (“to cause to radiate, irradiate; to emit beams, radiate”), from radius (“ray of light; rod, staff; spoke of a wheel”) + -ō (first conjugation verb-forming suffix) (further etymology uncertain; possibly ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *reh₁t- (“beam; pole; post”)). The adjective is attested earlier than the verb. The English word is analysable as in- (“against; into; on, upon”) + radiate.

Meanings

1. (literary, poetic) Made brilliant or bright; irradiated, illuminated.
   • The co-existent Flame / Knew the Destroyer; it encircled him, / Roll'd up his robe, and gathered round his head, / Condensing to intenser splendour there, / His crown of glory, and his light of life, / Hovered the irradiate wreath. 1801, Robert Southey, “The Twelfth Book”, in Thalaba the Destroyer, volume II, London: […] [F]or T[homas] N[orton] Longman and O[wen] Rees, […], by Biggs and Cottle, […], →OCLC, page 317:
   • There ſeek the Theban Bard, depriv'd of ſight, / VVithin, irradiate vvith prophetic light; […] 1725, Homer, “Book X”, in [Alexander Pope], transl., The Odyssey of Homer. […], volume III, London: […] Bernard Lintot, →OCLC, page 52, lines 582–583:
   • When, disappearing from our hemisphere, / The world's enlightener vanishes, and day / On all sides wasteth, suddenly the sky, / Erewhile irradiate only with his beam, / Is yet again unfolded, putting forth / Innumerable lights wherein one shines. 1814, Dante Alighieri, “Canto XX”, in H[enry] F[rancis] Cary, transl., The Vision; or, Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise, of Dante Alighieri. […], volume III (Paradise), London: […] [J. Barfield] for Taylor and Hessey, […], →OCLC, page 89, lines 1–6:
2. (figuratively, literary, poetic) Made splendid or wonderful.

Forms

Deriveds

irradiator · photoirradiate

Translations (1)

fi säteilevä (made splendid or wonderful)

irradiate en · VERB · etymology 2

Pronunciation

• /ɪˈɹeɪdiˌeɪt/ (General-American)
• (Southern-England) audio
• /ɪˈɹeɪdɪeɪt/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English irradiate (“illuminated, shining”) (more at etymology 1), see -ate (verb-forming suffix).

Meanings

1. (literary, poetic, transitive) To send out (heat, light, or some other form of radiation) in the form of rays; to radiate.
2. (literary, often, poetic, transitive) To make (someone or something) bright by shining light on them or it; to brighten, to illuminate.
   • Oh Thou, whose Spirit through this universe / In which Thou dost involve thyself diffused, / Shall so perchance irradiate human clay / That men, suddenly dazzled, lose themselves / In ecstacy^([sic – meaning ecstasy]) before a mortal shrine / Whose Light is but a Shade of the Divine; […] 1879, Jami, “Sáláman and Absál. Preliminary Invocation.”, in [Edward FitzGerald], transl., Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám, the Astronomer-Poet of Persia; and The Salámán and Ábsál of Jámí; […], 4th edition, London: Bernard Quaritch; […], →OCLC, page 51:
   • Such vvere thy gifts, Pedmálá, ſuch thy povv'r! / For, vvhen thy smile irradiates yon blue fields, / Obſervant Indra ſends the genial ſhovv'r. c. 1789, William Jones, “A Hymn to Lacshmí”, in A[nna] M[aria Shipley] J[ones], editor, The Works of Sir William Jones. […], volume VI, London: […] G[eorge] G[eorge] and J[ohn] Robinson, […]; and R[obert] H[arding] Evans (successor to Mr. [James] Edwards), […], published 1799, →OCLC, page 363:
   • Hail, all hail, O sun, that suscitates and circumscribes life; hail, O fountain of life and death! […] At times, a little cloud, emanation of terrestrial vapor, shadowed those vaults destined to thee alone, and thou irradiatedst it with such splendor, that it seemed the brow of innocence; but it blackened as ingratitude, and waged war against thy rays. 1875, F[rancesco] D[omenico] Guerrazzi, “The Banditti”, in Luigi Monti, transl., Manfred; or, The Battle of Benevento. […], New York, N.Y.: G[eorge] W. Carleton & Co.; London: S[ampson] Low, Son & Co., →OCLC, page 83:
   • He saw her image in the blight and blackness all around him, not irradiating but deepening the gloom. 1846 October 1 – 1848 April 1, Charles Dickens, “Mr. Dombey Goes Upon a Journey”, in Dombey and Son, London: Bradbury and Evans, […], published 1848, →OCLC, page 201:
   • Thou cheerful light of day! […] thou ſplendid luminary of Natur! thou no longer irradiateſt my eyes or exhilarateſt my ſoul! The ſeaſons ſtill follovv each other, and year ſucceeds to year; but to me day no more returns. 1799, E. F. Lantier [i.e., Étienne-François de Lantier], “Supper at the House of Aristides—Anecdotes”, in [anonymous], transl., The Travels of Antenor in Greece and Asia: […], volume I, London: […] T[homas] N[orton] Longman and O[wen] Rees, […], →OCLC, page 150:
   • Who hath watched / The midnight lightnings of the summer storm, / That, with their aweful blaze, irradiate heaven, / Then leave a blacker night? 1805, Robert Southey, “Canto XVIII”, in Madoc, London: […] [F]or Longman, Hurst, Rees, and Orme, and A[rchibald] Constable and Co, […], by James Ballantyne, […], →OCLC, part II (Madoc in Aztlan), page 359:
3. (literary, poetic, transitive) To apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something). ▸ To treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens.
   • An inherent protection in labeling of the shipping containers will be the prevention of irradiating the commodity again, insuring that the produce has been treated within the safety limits established by the FDA [Food and Drug Administration]. 1985 November 18, J. Richard Graves, jr., witness, “Statement of J. Richard Graves, jr., Chairman, Government Relations Committee, United Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Association”, in Federal Food Irradiation Development and Control Act of 1985: Hearing before the Subcommittee on Department Operations, Research, and Foreign Agriculture of the Committee on Agriculture, House of Representatives, Ninety-Ninth Congress, First Session on H.R. 696 […] (Serial No. 99-14), Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office, published 1986, →OCLC, page 100:
4. (literary, poetic, transitive) To apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something). ▸ To treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation.
5. (figuratively, literary, often, poetic, transitive) To animate or enliven (one's mood, or soul or spirit).
   • […] I therefore beseech God to give you his grace and blessing, and the influence of his blessed Spirit, that you may subdue and conquer the temperament of your nature, to do all things well-pleasing to him, and that may irradiate and strengthen your souls and direct you in all things, for there is none that teacheth like him. a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, “Dangers that may Arise from Your Constitution and Complexion”, in A Letter of Advice to His Grandchildren, Matthew, Gabriel, Anne, Mary, and Frances Hale. […], Boston, Mass.: Wells and Lilly […], published 1817, →OCLC, page 35:
6. (figuratively, literary, often, poetic, transitive) To cause (one's face) to look beautiful, happy, or lively; to light up.
   • [W]e regarded with awe and reverence the sublime features of Madame Columbus, now irradiated with triumph. 1877, William Black, “Mid-Atlantic”, in Green Pastures and Piccadilly. […], volume II, London: Macmillan and Co., →OCLC, page 186:
7. (figuratively, literary, often, poetic, transitive) To decorate (a place) splendidly.
   • No vveeping orphan ſavv his father's ſtores / Our ſhrines irradiate, or emblaze the floors; […] 1717, Alexander Pope, “Eloisa to Abelard”, in The Works of Mr. Alexander Pope, volume I, London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintot, […], published 1717, →OCLC, page 424:
8. (figuratively, literary, often, poetic, transitive) To enlighten (someone, their mind, etc.) intellectually or spiritually; to illuminate, to shed light on.
   • Nevertheless, she seemed to him so new to life, so truly a child—a reason, doubtless, more urgent to uphold and lend her his protection: the ray of humanity irradiating her features—the exclamation that burst from her, upon his first arousing from the torpor of insensibility, whilst extended in his narrow hammock on ship-board, had ever since left impressions of gratitude on his memory. 1838, [Letitia Elizabeth] Landon (indicated as editor), chapter XVI, in Duty and Inclination: […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 227:
   • He [Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet] first irradiated the entire annals of antiquity down to the age of Charlemagne with flashes of light that reveal an unity and coherence which had been lost in their magnitude and obscurity. 1837–1839, Henry Hallam, “History of Physical and Other Literature from 1650 to 1700”, in Introduction to the Literature of Europe, in the Fifteenth, Sixteenth and Seventeenth Centuries, volume IV, London: John Murray, […], →OCLC, section V (On Geography and History), paragraph 48, page 604:
   • And indeed we ought, in these happy intervals, when our understandings are thus irradiated and enlightened, to make a judgment of the state and condition of our souls in the sight of God, and not to take our estimate of it when our understandings are eclipsed, and we are overshadowed with a dark cloud of sadness and melancholy. a. 1711 (date written), George Bull, “Discourse III. Concerning the Spirit of God in the Faithful; […]”, in Some Important Points of Primitive Christianity Maintained and Defended; in Several Sermons and Other Discourses, Oxford, Oxfordshire: John Henry Parker, published 1840, →OCLC, page 400:
   • This book might irradiate your mind
   • For him, in one dear Presence, there exists / A virtue which irradiates and exalts / Objects through widest intercourse of sense. 1799–1805 (date written), William Wordsworth, “Book II. School-time.—(Continued.)”, in The Prelude, or Growth of a Poet’s Mind; an Autobiographical Poem, London: Edward Moxon, […], published 1850, →OCLC, page 43:
9. (figuratively, literary, often, poetic, transitive) To send out (something) as if in the form of rays; to diffuse, to radiate, to shed.
   • [H]is ideal of grandeur was a splendid façade, diffusing its brilliancy outward too, irradiating hospitality. 1876 June, Henry James, Jr., chapter III, in The American, Boston, Mass.: James R[ipley] Osgood and Company, […], published 5 May 1877, →OCLC, pages 56–57:
   • Mercury in any geniture, if he ſhall be found in Virgo, or Piſces his oppoſite ſigne, and that in the Horoſcope, irradiated by thoſe quartile aspects of Saturne or Mars, the childe ſhall be mad or melancholy. 1621, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], “Starres a Cause. Signes from Physiognomy, Metoposcopy, Chiromancy”, in The Anatomy of Melancholy, […], Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] John Lichfield and Iames Short, for Henry Cripps, →OCLC, partition 1, section 2, member 1, subsection 4, page 75:
10. (figuratively, literary, obsolete, poetic, transitive) To influence (something) as if with rays of heat, light, etc.
    • There muſt be antecedent to it that Ethereal or Solar heat, that muſt digeſt, influence, irradiate, and put theſe more ſimple parts of Matter into motion and coalition: […] a. 1677 (date written), Matthew Hale, “A Brief Consideration of the Hypotheses that Concern the Eternity of the World”, in The Primitive Origination of Mankind, Considered and Examined According to the Light of Nature, London: […] William Godbid, for William Shrowsbery, […], published 1677, →OCLC, section I, page 76:
    • [T]he neighbouring Spermatick Veſſels are irradiated and virtuated by the kidneys, even as the Brain irradiates the lovver Parts, by an inbred property reſembling light. 1662, Bartholinus [i.e., Thomas Bartholin], “Of the Kidneys”, in Nicholas Culpeper, Abdiah Cole, transl., Bartholinus Anatomy; […] (The Physitian’s Library), London: […] Peter Cole […], →OCLC, 1st book (Of the Lower Belly), page 48, column 1:
11. (intransitive, literary, often, poetic) To become bright; to brighten, to light up.
12. (intransitive, literary, often, poetic) Often followed by on or upon: to emit rays of light; to shine.
13. (figuratively, intransitive, literary, often, poetic) To emit something other than light; to radiate.
    • [T]he pleaſures of ſenſe have no reliſh vvhere thou [Jesus] irradiateſt and teſtifieſt vvith our conſcience, that vve are the children of God, and have done thy vvill ſincerely, […] 1733, Tho[mas] Allen, “Jesus Christ’s Sixth Royal Embassy; or Word to the Angel of the Church in Philadelphia”, in The Christian’s Sure Guide to Eternal Glory: Or, Living Oracles Most Comfortable, Holy and Instructive of the Lord Jesus Christ from Heaven, in His Royal Embassy to the Seven Churches of Asia, […], London: […] Francis Jefferies […], →OCLC, page 253:
14. (intransitive, literary, obsolete, often, poetic) To diverge or be sent out in the form of rays.
    • […] Moſes by approaching to God in the Mount, had a Communication of Glory or Light from him, vvhich irradiated from his Face vvhen he deſcended from the Mount. a. 1705 (date written), [John Locke], “[Second Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians]”, in A Paraphrase and Notes on the Epistles of St. Paul […], London: […] J[ohn] H[umphreys] for Awnsham and John Churchill, […], published 1706, →OCLC, section II, footnote 6(y), page 21:

Forms

Deriveds

irradiating · irradiator · irradiative · unirradiated · X-irradiate · irradiatingly · nonirradiating · irradiated

Relateds

radiography · radiancy · irradiant · irradiation · irradiancy · radiate · radiation · radiance · radiation therapy · irradiance · radiotherapy · radiant

Synonyms

enlighten · illumine · belight · illumine · light up · beshine · lustrate · light up · alight · light · bright · irradiate · illuminate · lighten · illume · shed light on · luster · illustrate · fire

Translations (11)

bg облъчвам (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · et kiiritama (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · sv bestråla (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · mk озрачи (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · fa پرتو زدن (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · de bestrahlen (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · es radiar (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · pl napromieniować (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · pl napromieniowywać (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · fi sädettää (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation) · fi säteilyttää (to apply radiation other than visible light to (someone or something); to treat (food) with ionizing radiation to destroy pathogens; to treat (a patient, or a cancerous growth or tumour) with radiation)