B1verbformalscienceacademic
US/ɪˈluː.mə.neɪt/
UK/ɪˈluː.mɪ.neɪt/
to light up a place or object; also to help people understand something more clearly
In context
At night, thousands of lanterns illuminate the old streets of Hoi An.
The bridge is illuminated in different colors every weekend.
This study helps to illuminate why some students give up learning languages.
Words that go with illuminate
adverb + verb
- brightly illuminatedThe stage was brightly illuminated for the final song.
verb + noun
- illuminate the skyFireworks illuminate the sky over the river at New Year.
- help illuminateOld letters can help illuminate how people lived a century ago.
- illuminate the problemThe report does little to illuminate the problem of traffic jams.
verb + preposition
- illuminated byThe room was illuminated by a single candle.