the illumination

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   Light, or the act of providing light, especially in a place or for a special purpose.

   Grammar: Uncountable in this sense: good illumination, not 'an illumination'.

   Patterns

   • good/poor illumination
   • the illumination of something
   • provide illumination

   The cave is famous for the strange illumination of its walls at sunset.

   Poor illumination in the workshop makes accidents more likely.

   The stage design uses colored illumination to create a calm mood.

2. 2noununcountableformalliterary

   A clear understanding of something, or the understanding that something gives you.

   Grammar: Uncountable and rather literary: find illumination in something.

   Patterns

   • find illumination in something
   • offer illumination
   • illumination about something

   The letters between the two writers offer new illumination about their friendship.

   She found illumination in the simple idea that everyone makes mistakes.

3. 3nouncountabletechnical

   A painted or decorated design in an old handwritten book, especially one using gold or bright colors.

   Grammar: Countable in this art-history sense: an illumination, beautiful illuminations.

   Patterns

   • an illumination in a manuscript
   • a book with illuminations

   The museum displayed a medieval manuscript with gold illuminations.

   Each illumination in the book shows a scene from the story.

Word forms

Common combinations

good illumination

Good illumination is essential when you are reading small print.

poor illumination

The room had poor illumination, so we moved closer to the window.

provide illumination

These small lamps provide illumination along the path.

the illumination of the sky

The illumination of the sky after the storm was beautiful.

Synonyms and how they differ

lighting

'Lighting' is the everyday word for lamps and lights in a place; 'illumination' sounds more formal or scientific.

light

More general and much more common; use 'illumination' when you want a formal or technical tone.

Opposites

Word family

illuminate verb

to light something up or make it clearer

illuminated adjective

lit up, often with decorative lights

illuminating adjective

helping you understand something better

Commonly confused: the illumination or illusion?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “the illumination”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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