luminous

[ loo-muh-nuhs ]

adjective

1. radiating or reflecting light; shining; bright.

   Synonyms: brilliant, resplendent, radiant, lucid

   Antonyms: dark

2. lighted up or illuminated; well-lighted:

   the luminous ballroom.

   Antonyms: dark

3. brilliant intellectually; enlightened or enlightening, as a writer or a writer's works:

   a luminous concept; luminous prose.

   Synonyms: intelligent, bright

   Antonyms: stupid

4. clear; readily intelligible:

   a concise, luminous report.

   Synonyms: lucid, perspicuous, understandable

   Antonyms: obscure

luminous

/ ˈluːmɪnəs /

adjective

1. radiating or reflecting light; shining; glowing

   luminous colours

2. not in technical use exhibiting luminescence

   luminous paint

3. full of light; well-lit
4. (of a physical quantity in photometry) evaluated according to the visual sensation produced in an observer rather than by absolute energy measurements Compare radiant

   luminous intensity

   luminous flux

5. easily understood; lucid; clear
6. enlightening or wise

Derived Forms

• ˈluminously, adverb
• ˈluminousness, noun

Other Words From

• lumi·nous·ly adverb
• lumi·nous·ness noun
• non·lumi·nous adjective
• non·lumi·nous·ly adverb
• non·lumi·nous·ness noun
• self-lumi·nous adjective
• semi·lumi·nous adjective
• semi·lumi·nous·ly adverb
• semi·lumi·nous·ness noun
• un·lumi·nous adjective
• un·lumi·nous·ly adverb
• un·lumi·nous·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of luminous¹

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English word from Latin word lūminōsus. See lumen, -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of luminous¹

C15: from Latin lūminōsus full of light, from lūmen light

Example Sentences

Jeff Bezos’ defense has failed it and the luminous newspaper he owns.

From Salon

At CatEye Beauty Skincare, a boutique day spa in San Diego, girls are bringing in pictures of Korean women with so-called glass skin — a Korean beauty trend that refers to a clear and luminous complexion — and saying, “I want my skin to look like this,” owner Catherine Noel said.

From Los Angeles Times

“Company” is always worth the time, and Coleman anchors the central role with a luminous humanity.

From Los Angeles Times

And while her place in his life is such that she doesn’t even show up until an hour into the movie, she’s the most luminous star in his cosmos — even if Fellini often hides her light under the bushel of what seem to be a deliberately clunky pair of black-rimmed glasses.

From New York Times

The Rabbit R1 is a fun bit of hardware, in an era where nothing is tactile any more, a luminous orange square with a big screen that you definitely won’t lose in your handbag.

From BBC

Related Words

• brilliant
• incandescent
• lucid
• lustrous
• radiant
• shining
• translucent
• vivid