ENGLISH
REFERENCE

luminous

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɫumənəs// UK //lˈuːmɪnəs// lu·mi·nous

adj. shining in the dark or giving off a soft, bright light. You use this to describe things that glow or look very clear and glowing.

adj. emitting or reflecting light; glowing or shining. Often used to describe objects that are visible in the dark or have a radiant, clear quality.


SIMPLE

The watch has luminous hands so you can see the time at night.

CONTEXTUAL

The deep-sea fish used luminous organs to attract prey in the pitch-black water.

COMPLEX

The artist was famous for her luminous landscapes, which seemed to capture the exact moment the sun broke through the morning mist.

Synonyms
Origin

Borrowed from Middle French lumineus, from Latin lūminōsus.

Usage

Often used both literally for light-emitting objects and figuratively to describe skin, eyes, or prose.

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