illumination
/ˌɪˌluːməˈneɪʃən/ih-loo-muh-NAY-shuhn
UK form converted from the US by rule · unchecked/ˌɪˌluməˈneɪʃən/ih-loo-muh-NAY-shuhn
Meaningthe act of illuminating
Common meaning: lighting
Other meanings: understanding gained; decorative lights
Tap a word part to explore
- ilform of in- before l
- luminlight; a lampLewis & Short, Latin Dictionary (1879), p. 1084 · scan
- atverb or adjective ending: to make, having
- ionnoun ending: act or result
‘form of in- before l’ + ‘light’ → illumination
Journey through time
- Latinlūmen, -inis‘light’
- Englishilluminate‘to light up’
- Englishformed in English from illuminateillumination‘lighting’ · today
Sources & notes
Meaning: “Meaning” is the sense that emerges from the word’s roots; “Common meaning” is today’s everyday sense. Both written by us.
Pronunciation
- UK IPA: converted from the US form by rule (unchecked). Respelling: generated.
- No UK recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-GB voice.
- US IPA: CMUdict (BSD-2), converted to IPA by rule. Respelling: generated.
- No US recording; the speaker uses your device’s en-US voice.
Origin: Formed in English from illuminate + -ion.
Dictionary: Skeat (1898), ILLUMINATE, p.281 · scan
Roots
- lūmen, -inis Latin “light; a lamp”
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