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Illumination: meaning, definitions and examples

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illumination

 

[ ɪˌluːmɪˈneɪʃən ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

artistic expression

The act of illuminating or the state of being illuminated. In art, illumination refers to the decoration of manuscripts with intricate designs, often including gold or silver leaf. It can also refer to the use of light in photography or cinematography to create a specific mood or effect.

Synonyms

brightening, lighting, radiance.

Examples of usage

  • I was amazed by the beautiful illumination in the medieval manuscripts.
  • The illumination in the film created a mysterious atmosphere.
Context #2 | Noun

spiritual context

The act of enlightening spiritually or intellectually. Illumination in this context refers to gaining a deeper understanding or insight into a spiritual or intellectual truth.

Synonyms

enlightenment, insight, revelation.

Examples of usage

  • The book provided me with a sense of illumination on the topic.
  • She experienced a moment of illumination during meditation.

Translations

Translations of the word "illumination" in other languages:

🇵🇹 iluminação

🇮🇳 प्रकाश

🇩🇪 Beleuchtung

🇮🇩 penerangan

🇺🇦 освітлення

🇵🇱 oświetlenie

🇯🇵 照明 (しょうめい)

🇫🇷 illumination

🇪🇸 iluminación

🇹🇷 aydınlatma

🇰🇷 조명 (jomyeong)

🇸🇦 إضاءة

🇨🇿 osvětlení

🇸🇰 osvetlenie

🇨🇳 照明 (zhàomíng)

🇸🇮 razsvetljava

🇮🇸 lýsing

🇰🇿 жарықтандыру

🇬🇪 განათება

🇦🇿 işıqlandırma

🇲🇽 iluminación

Etymology

The word 'illumination' comes from the Latin word 'illuminare', which means 'to light up' or 'to illuminate'. It has been used in English since the 14th century to refer to the act of shedding light on something, both literally and metaphorically. In the context of art and spirituality, illumination has played a significant role in human history, symbolizing knowledge, enlightenment, and divine inspiration.

See also: illuminating, illuminator, unilluminated, unillumined.

Word Frequency Rank

At #7,032 in frequency, this word belongs to advanced vocabulary. It's less common than core vocabulary but important for sophisticated expression.