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

irradiate

/ ĭ-rā′dē-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.

Derived Forms

• irˈradiative, adjective
• irˈradiˌator, noun

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of irradiate¹

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

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.

From Science News

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

From Science News

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

From Quanta Magazine

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg

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

From Project Gutenberg