radiate en · VERB · etymology 1
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /ˈɹeɪdieɪt/
Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin radiātus, perfect passive participle of radiō (“to radiate, furnish with spokes, give out rays, radiate, shine”) (see -ate (verb-forming suffix)), from radius (“a spoke, ray”).
Meanings
-
(intransitive) To extend, be sent or spread out from a center like radii.
Crewe North Motive Power Depot is to be modernised completely. This includes the provision of a new coaling plant, ash handling plant, and two new locomotive sheds of the latest roundhouse type, each with 32 roads radiating from a 70-ft. dia. turntable.
1948 November and December, “Crewe M.P.D. to be Modernised”, in Railway Magazine, page 372:Oban is not a terminus; its routes radiate by sea, rail and road.
1994, Great Britain. Parliament. House of Commons, Parliamentary Debates:Doncaster is a rail hub in every sense. Passenger lines radiate in six directions, there are freight lines that bypass the station, extensive freight yards, a major works, and a rolling stock depot.
2021 May 19, Philip Haigh, “Doncaster enhancements relying on DfT approval”, in RAIL, number 931, page 30:
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(transitive) To emit rays or waves.
The stove radiates heat.
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(intransitive) To come out or proceed in rays or waves.
The heat radiates from a stove.
She raised her head, and carefully opened her eyes again, staring directly into the orange glow radiating through the thick glass.
1988, Douglas Adams, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, William Heinemann Ltd, page 139:Light radiates from luminous bodies directly to our eyes.
1706, John Locke, Elements of Natural Philosophy:
- (transitive) To illuminate.
- (transitive) To expose to ionizing radiation, such as by radiography.
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(figuratively, intransitive, transitive, with with) To manifest in a glowing manner.
Her face radiated joy. Her face radiated with joy.
Slim, sensual Richard Hell radiates a commanding coolness.
1978 August 19, Harold Pickett, “New York, New York”, in Gay Community News, volume 6, number 5, page 8:
-
(figuratively, intransitive) To manifest itself in a glowing manner.
Something radiated from him like a sheen: a drive, a self assurance, a fixity of purpose.
2026 February 17, Hugh Muir, “A historic force to be reckoned with, a giant to be mourned. Our panel pays tribute to the Rev Jesse Jackson”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 19 Jun 2026:Joy radiated from her face.
- (intransitive) To spread into new habitats, migrate.
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(obsolete, transitive) To broadcast by radio.
Programmes marked thus will be radiated by Droitwich, but not by London and North National transmitters.
1938, Radio Times, volume 59, number 761, page 25:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| radiates | Number=Sing, Person=3, Tense=Pres | lexicographic | |
| radiated | Tense=Past, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic | |
| radiated | Tense=Past | lexicographic | |
| radiating | Tense=Pres, VerbForm=Part | lexicographic |
Deriveds
radiator · eradiate · corradiate · reradiate · x-radiate
Relateds
radio · radius · radiation · radiative · ray · radial
Synonyms
irradiate (to expose to radiation)
Translations (37)
lv apstarot (to expose to ionizing radiation) · az saçmaq (to emit rays or waves) · ro iradia (to emit rays or waves) · sh zráčiti (to extend from a center) · ro ilumina (to illuminate) · uk випромі́нюватися (to come out or proceed in rays) · fi säteillä (to manifest in a glowing manner) · bg осветявам (to illuminate) · fi levitä (to spread into new habitats) · sh osvijétliti (to illuminate) · it irradiare (to extend from a center) · fi levittäytyä (to spread into new habitats) · sh zráčiti (to come out or proceed in rays) · bg облъчвам (to expose to ionizing radiation) · fi säteilyttää (to expose to ionizing radiation) · uk випромі́нювати (to emit rays or waves) · cs ozářit (to expose to ionizing radiation) · el ακτινοβολώ (to expose to ionizing radiation) · fi säteillä (to emit rays or waves) · sh ozráčiti (to expose to ionizing radiation) · lv izstarot (to emit rays or waves) · de strahlen (to expose to ionizing radiation) · fi säteillä (to extend from a center) · bg излъчвам (to emit rays or waves) · fi säteillä (to come out or proceed in rays) · fi valaista (to illuminate) · fi altistaa säteilylle (to expose to ionizing radiation) · el ακτινοβολώ (to emit rays or waves) · ca irradiar (to emit rays or waves) · mi hahana (to emit rays or waves) · el ακτινοβολώ (to manifest in a glowing manner) · he קָרַן (to emit rays or waves) · fa فرتابیدن (to come out or proceed in rays) · es irradiar (to emit rays or waves) · uk ви́променити (to emit rays or waves) · sh zráčiti (to emit rays or waves) · mi hana (to emit rays or waves)