to shine light on something and make it bright or visible
The fireworks illuminate the night sky with brilliant colors.
Solar lights automatically illuminate the garden path after sunset.
✦ Mid 16th century (in the sense ‘give light to, light up’): from Latin illuminat- ‘lightened up’, from the verb illuminare, from in- ‘into’ + lumen, lumin- ‘light’.
to explain something clearly or help someone understand it better
The teacher's example illuminated the difficult concept for the class.
His speech illuminated the audience about climate change.
✦ The figurative sense ‘to enlighten intellectually’ dates from the late 16th century.
to decorate a page or letters in a book or manuscript with gold, silver, or bright colors
Medieval scribes illuminated prayer books with gold leaf.
The artist illuminates the ancient text with intricate floral borders.
✦ The sense relating to decorating manuscripts dates from the early 19th century.
