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View synonyms for irradiate

irradiate

[ verb ih-rey-dee-eyt; adjective ih-rey-dee-it, -eyt ]

verb (used with object)

, ir·ra·di·at·ed, ir·ra·di·at·ing.
  1. to shed rays of light upon; illuminate.
  2. to illumine intellectually or spiritually.
  3. to brighten as if with light.
  4. to radiate (light, illumination, etc.).
  5. to heat with radiant energy.
  6. to treat by exposure to radiation, as of ultraviolet light.
  7. to expose to radiation.


verb (used without object)

, ir·ra·di·at·ed, ir·ra·di·at·ing.
  1. Archaic.
    1. to emit rays; shine.
    2. to become radiant.

adjective

  1. irradiated; bright.

irradiate

/ ɪˈreɪdɪˌeɪt /

verb

  1. tr physics to subject to or treat with light or other electromagnetic radiation or with beams of particles
  2. tr to expose (food) to electromagnetic radiation to kill bacteria and retard deterioration
  3. tr to make clear or bright intellectually or spiritually; illumine
  4. a less common word for radiate
  5. obsolete.
    intr to become radiant
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


irradiate

/ ĭ-rādē-āt′ /

  1. To expose to or treat with radiation. For example, meat sold as food is often irradiated with x-rays or other radiation to kill bacteria; uranium 238 can be irradiated with neutrons to create fissionable plutonium 239.


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Derived Forms

  • irˈradiative, adjective
  • irˈradiˌator, noun
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Other Words From

  • ir·radi·ating·ly adverb
  • ir·radi·ative adjective
  • ir·radi·ator noun
  • nonir·radi·ated adjective
  • unir·radi·ated adjective
  • unir·radi·ative adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of irradiate1

1595–1605; < Latin irradiātus, past participle of irradiāre to shine upon. See ir- 1, radiate
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Example Sentences

Liu and his colleagues irradiated a solution containing PFBS and sulfite for an entire day, only to find that less than half of the pollutant in the solution had broken down.

The duo then chemically analyzed the irradiated oil to see how much was transformed into dissolved organic carbon.

The Martian surface has long been an irradiated desert unsuitable for life.

Suddenly his whole heart seemed to irradiate light and color and music and sweet smelling things.

Thus will the perfections of the Deity for ever blaze in the flames of perdition, and irradiate the temple of glory!

The shadows of the morning having disappeared, the brightness of eternal noon will irradiate our existence.

Then a carefully veiled kindliness of heart seemed to bubble to the surface and irradiate his face.

Deeper than tears, these irradiate the tophets with their glad heavens.

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