illuminate

v

1. light up, light, lighten, brighten; illumine, Archaic. illume, Obs. enlumine; irradiate, radiate, cast light upon, shine, beam, stream; make flare or flame, burn, glow, incandesce, phosphoresce; shimmer, sparkle, scintillate, glitter, gleam; flash, flicker, fulgurate, coruscate; make resplendent or illustrious.

2. clarify, elucidate, explain, make plain, explicate, make lucid or clear; define, expound, make explicit; interpret, decipher, literalize, render intelligible; clear up, solve, resolve, simplify, shed or cast light on, throw light upon; expose, bare, lay open, bring to light, Archaic. enucleate; unfold, unmask, unveil, uncover; show, demonstrate, illustrate, hold the mirror up to; manifest, point out, set forth, exhibit; describe, delineate, margin, gloss, annotate.

3. enlighten, inform, make aware, disabuse, give insight to; open the eyes of, shed or cast light on, bring out of the wilderness, civilize; instruct, teach, indoctrinate, educate, guide; tell, acquaint, familiarize with, make known to; apprise, notify, reveal, divulge, impart; communicate, initiate, introduce, edify, inculcate; school, tutor, train, nurture, prepare, prime, counsel, advise; discipline, drill, exercise, coach, lecture, catechize; persuade, convince, prevail upon, induce; stimulate, inspire, animate, exalt, ennoble, elevate; instill, impart, fill with genius, light the torch.

4. emblazon, blazon, Archaic. emblaze; color, imbue with color, brighten, rubricate; (all of manuscripts) illustrate, miniate, elaborate; daub, paint, crayon, pigment, stain, dye; tinge, tint, gild; enamel, lacquer.

5. decorate, adorn, ornament, embellish, enrich, enhance, beautify; grace, embroider, trim, dress, trick out; bedizen, deck, bedeck, Archaic. bedight, array, festoon, garnish; spruce up, make smart, Inf. titivate.