irradiate
verb
ir·ra·di·ate i-ˈrā-dē-ˌāt 
irradiated; irradiating
transitive verb
1
a
: to affect or treat by radiant energy (such as heat)
specifically : to treat by irradiation
b
: to cast rays of light upon : illuminate
c
: to enlighten intellectually or spiritually
2
: to emit like rays of light : radiate
irradiating strength and comfort
intransitive verb
archaic : to emit rays : shine
irradiative
i-ˈrā-dē-ˌā-tiv
adjective irradiator
i-ˈrā-dē-ˌā-tər
noun 
Synonyms
- bathe
- beacon
- emblaze
- illume
- illuminate
- illumine
- light
- lighten
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
The food was irradiated to kill any germs. the light from a galaxy of flashing signs irradiates the heart and soul of Las Vegas
Recent Examples on the Web In addition to its power generation, TVA helps the U.S. military irradiate tritium-producing burnable absorber rods at Watts Bar. 
Tribune News Service, al, 6 Aug. 2022 It’s also one of the first residential condominium buildings in New York to introduce ultraviolet C (UVC) energy throughout its air supply system to irradiate germs and viruses. Ingrid Abramovitch, ELLE Decor, 6 June 2022 Iran would irradiate uranium silicide pellets in the reactor to produce medical isotopes, primarily molybdenum-99. Richard Stone, Science | AAAS, 15 July 2021 Some large growers do intentionally irradiate their crop, however. Sara Chodosh, Popular Science, 9 Mar. 2021 The best time to irradiate, the two found, was 5.5 to 5.7 days into the pupal stage, when the adult fly’s ovaries and testes were developing and thus most sensitive to radiation. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 26 May 2020 Threatening to irradiate Mount Weather didn’t stop Cage, so Clarke and Bellamy actually did it. Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 20 May 2020 Many still mourn relatives who were kidnapped as infants and secretly given away for adoption, or died of cancer after being irradiated to treat ringworm upon arrival in Israel. David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2020 Such fires are more dangerous around Chernobyl, as the trees and plant life are still irradiated from the 1986 nuclear disaster. NBC News, 6 Apr. 2020 See More
Tribune News Service, al, 6 Aug. 2022 It’s also one of the first residential condominium buildings in New York to introduce ultraviolet C (UVC) energy throughout its air supply system to irradiate germs and viruses. Ingrid Abramovitch, ELLE Decor, 6 June 2022 Iran would irradiate uranium silicide pellets in the reactor to produce medical isotopes, primarily molybdenum-99. Richard Stone, Science | AAAS, 15 July 2021 Some large growers do intentionally irradiate their crop, however. Sara Chodosh, Popular Science, 9 Mar. 2021 The best time to irradiate, the two found, was 5.5 to 5.7 days into the pupal stage, when the adult fly’s ovaries and testes were developing and thus most sensitive to radiation. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 26 May 2020 Threatening to irradiate Mount Weather didn’t stop Cage, so Clarke and Bellamy actually did it. Alamin Yohannes, EW.com, 20 May 2020 Many still mourn relatives who were kidnapped as infants and secretly given away for adoption, or died of cancer after being irradiated to treat ringworm upon arrival in Israel. David M. Halbfinger, New York Times, 3 Mar. 2020 Such fires are more dangerous around Chernobyl, as the trees and plant life are still irradiated from the 1986 nuclear disaster. NBC News, 6 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Latin irradiatus, past participle of irradiare, from in- + radius ray
First Known Use
1603, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1b
Kids Definition
irradiate
verb
ir·ra·di·ate i-ˈrā-dē-ˌāt
irradiated; irradiating
1
: to cast rays of light on
2
: to treat by exposure to radiation (as X-rays)
Medical Definition
irradiate
transitive verb
ir·ra·di·ate ir-ˈād-ē-ˌāt
irradiated; irradiating
: to affect or treat by radiant energy (as heat)
specifically : to treat by exposure to radiation (as ultraviolet light or gamma rays)
irradiating
verb
1
as in illumining
to supply with light the light from a galaxy of flashing signs irradiates the heart and soul of Las Vegas Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- illumining
- illuminating
- lighting
- brightening
- lightening
- beaconing
- bathing
- radiating
- illuming
- shining
- beaming
- incinerating
- igniting
- glowing
- glistening
- blinding
- highlighting
- emblazing
- gleaming
- spotlighting
- glittering
- dazzling
- enhaloing
- kindling
- floodlighting
- haloing
- dazing
- beating (down)
- glaring
- burning
- flaming
- blazing
- firing
- bedazzling
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- darkening
- blackening
- obscuring
- obfuscating
- dimming
- covering
- dulling
- extinguishing
- quenching
- shrouding
- dousing
- veiling
- putting out
- dowsing
- snuffing (out)
2
as in radiating
to throw or give off irradiating an aura of supreme confidence on the playing field Synonyms & Similar Words
- radiating
- emitting
- casting
- releasing
- emanating
- issuing
- expelling
- eliminating
- evolving
- exhaling
- discharging
- shooting
- pouring
- evacuating
- venting
- spraying
- secreting
- giving out
- throwing out
- excreting
- ejecting
- exuding
- expiring
- erupting
- oozing
- sending (out)
- squirting
- spurting
- spewing
- jetting
- spouting
- gushing
- outpouring
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- absorbing
- inhaling
- taking up
- sucking (up)
- soaking (up)
- sponging