to cast light on (something); to fill (e.g. a place) with light
to decorate (e.g. a building) with lights
to brighten (something)
to decorate (a manuscript) with elaborate initial letters or marginal designs in gold, silver, and brilliant colours
to elucidate or clarify (something)
to enlighten (somebody) spiritually or intellectually
illuminating adj
illuminatingly adv
illuminative /-nətiv/ adj
illuminator noun
[Latin illuminatus, past part. of illuminare, from in-2 + luminare to light up, from lumin-, lumen light]