luminous
Say it: LOO-mih-nus /ˈlumənəs/ · adjective
What “luminous” means
Giving off light or glowing brightly.
More precisely: Giving off or full of light; bright or glowing.
Example: “The luminous dial on my watch makes early runs in the dark easier.”
When to use it
Use it for things that glow, especially in the dark, or in slightly literary descriptions of beautiful light.
Memory trick
Latin lumen means light, which is what a luminous object gives off.
Similar words
glowing, radiant, bright
Where it comes from
From Latin lumen, "light."
Quick check
The stars stuck to your bedroom ceiling glow after you turn the lamp off. How would you describe them?
reflective or luminous?
Show the answer
luminous
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