Word
Definitions
01physical light
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun Formal
n. the light that comes from a source, or the act of lighting up a place.
n. the act of supplying with light or the state of being illuminated by a source.
“The street lamps provided just enough illumination to see the path ahead.”
“The architect relied on natural illumination from the skylights to reduce the building's dependence on electrical systems during the day.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the state of being lit; countable when referring to a specific source of light.
02understanding or clarity
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Academic · Formal
n. the act of making something clear or easy to understand.
n. the process of making something clear or providing intellectual or spiritual enlightenment.
“The lecture provided some illumination on the complex causes of the war.”
“The philosopher sought spiritual illumination through years of silent meditation and rigorous study of ancient texts.”
Usage
Usually uncountable in this figurative sense.
Synonyms
03manuscript decoration
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Technical · Literary
n. the gold, silver, or bright colours used to decorate old handwritten books.
n. the decoration of manuscripts or books with coloured illustrations, gold, or silver.
“The medieval Bible was famous for its beautiful gold illumination.”
“Scholars examined the intricate illumination in the margins of the fourteenth-century manuscript to identify the specific workshop that produced it.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“The effect also occurred at illumination levels similar to those found indoors or outside on an overcast day.” “Rounding out the controls are a power button and a button for the lights (which can switch between two angles of forward illumination, the higher one making you more visible to cars).” Etymology
Borrowed from Middle French illumination, from Late Latin illuminatio, from Latin illumino. Equivalent to illuminate + -ion.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/illumination
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0