Meaning & use
luminous
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Meanings
adjectivecomparable
Giving off or full of light, especially a soft glowing light, so that it can be seen in the dark.
Grammar: Used before a noun or after be: a luminous dial, the sky was luminous.
Patterns
- luminous in the dark
The watch has luminous hands that glow in the dark.
A luminous moon rose over the lake.
Deep-sea fish produce a luminous trail in the water.
adjectivecomparableliterary
Shining with a bright, clear quality that seems to glow from within, said of skin, colors or eyes.
Grammar: Often used about colors or faces: luminous eyes.
Patterns
- luminous with something
Her face was luminous with joy.
The painter was famous for his luminous blues.
The actress had a luminous presence on stage.
adjectivecomparablefigurativeformal
Remarkably clear and inspiring, said of writing, speech or ideas.
Grammar: Figurative; often with prose or talent.
Patterns
- luminous prose
The critic praised her luminous prose.
He gave a luminous explanation of the theory.
Her luminous intelligence impressed everyone.
Word forms
| comparative | more luminous |
|---|---|
| superlative | most luminous |
Common combinations
- luminous glow
- A luminous glow spread across the horizon.
- luminous paint
- The children decorated the wall with luminous paint.
- luminous eyes
- Her luminous eyes lit up when she smiled.
- luminous quality
- The photograph has a luminous quality.
- luminous skin
- The cream promised luminous skin.
Synonyms and how they differ
- glowing
- Glowing is the everyday term for steady light, while luminous is more elevated and descriptive.
- radiant
- Radiant stresses light sent outward, often linked with joy, as in a radiant smile.
- bright
- Bright is the plain word and covers any strong light, with no sense of softness.
- brilliant
- Brilliant means extremely bright and dazzling, stronger than the gentle shine of luminous.
Opposites
Word family
- luminosity noun
- the quality of giving off light
- luminance noun
- a measure of brightness
- luminary noun
- a famous and influential person
- illuminate verb
- to light up
- luminously adverb
- with a glow
Commonly confused: luminous or voluminous?
luminous vs voluminous
Voluminous means large in volume, such as a voluminous coat, and has nothing to do with light.
Practice
The clock had ____ numbers so that you could read them in the dark.
Choose one answer.
Luminous means giving off light, which lets the numbers show in the dark. Voluminous means large in volume and is unrelated.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “luminous”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.