illuminate

verb

1. (transitive)To shine light on something.

   “Nero illuminated his gardens with live Christians soaked in tar, and we were now treated to a similar spectacle, probably for the first time since his day, only happily our lamps were not living ones.”

   “A light that is one foot away from the subject's face will completely illuminate the face, but leave the rest of the body softer and darker.”

   “Riding along the busy, narrow roads of Bali on her scooter with the sun illuminating her face, Victoria Kjos has a clear destination in sight — the beach.”

2. (transitive)To decorate something with lights.
3. (figuratively, transitive)To clarify or make something understandable.

   “The situation, as it was, made it more difficult for him to leave. Yet it illuminated the very reasons why he had to go.”

4. (transitive)To decorate the page of a manuscript book with ornamental designs.
5. (figuratively, transitive)To make spectacular.

   “Hodgson's approach may not illuminate proceedings in Poland and Ukraine but early evidence suggests they will be tough to break down.”

6. (intransitive)To glow; to light up.

   “Red diode in button illuminates when camera runs at speed set in five-digit speed selector.”

   “Say my name / and every color illuminates. / We are shining / […]”

7. (intransitive)To be exposed to light.
8. (transitive)To direct a radar beam toward.

adj

1. (obsolete)Enlightened, illuminated, made bright.

   “February 28 1630, Joseph Hall, The Hypocrite do ye see an illuminate elder of the anabaptists rapt in divine ecstasies?”

2. (figuratively)Enlightened spiritually, divinely taught or inspired; in technical use, converted, baptized.
3. (archaic)Learned, erudite.

noun

1. Someone thought to have an unusual degree of enlightenment.