radiate

1 of 2

verb

ra·​di·​ate ˈrā-dē-ˌāt 

radiated; radiating

intransitive verb

1

: to proceed in a direct line from or toward a center

2

: to send out rays : shine brightly

3

a

: to issue in or as if in rays

b

: to evolve by adaptive radiation

transitive verb

1

: to send out in or as if in rays

2

: irradiate, illuminate

3

: to spread abroad or around as if from a center

radiate

2 of 2

adjective

ra·​di·​ate ˈrā-dē-ət 

-ˌāt

: having rays or radial parts: such as

a

: having ray flowers

b

: characterized by radial symmetry : radially symmetrical

radiately adverb

Synonyms

Verb

• branch
• fan (out)
• ray

Examples of radiate in a Sentence

Verb

The pain was radiating down my arm.

The sun radiates heat and light.

Heat radiates from the sun.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

That's where its shooting stars and fireballs radiate from — close to the end of the handle of the Big Dipper — but they can be seen anywhere in the night sky. —Jamie Carter, Forbes, 12 Dec. 2024

Greenhouse gases trap the heat that radiates from the sun, Astrid Caldas, a senior climate scientist for community resilience at the Union of Concerned Scientists, told ABC News. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 11 Dec. 2024

Both Tommy and the Ghoul are no-BS cowboys who radiate a blend of cocksure bravado and Southern charm. —Joey Nolfi, EW.com, 9 Dec. 2024

Another image, taken by the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on the Suomi NPP satellite, shows the heat signature radiating from the Reykjanes Peninsula around five hours after the eruption began—shining brighter even than the nearby capital city of Reykjavík. —Yaakov Katz, Newsweek, 28 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin radiatus, past participle of radiare, from radius ray

First Known Use

Verb

circa 1619, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Adjective

1668, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

radiate

verb

ra·​di·​ate

ˈrād-ē-ˌāt

radiated; radiating

1

: to proceed in a direct line from or toward a center

2

a

: to send out rays : shine

b

: to come forth in the form or as if in the form of rays

3

: to spread around from or as if from a center

Etymology

Verb

Latin radiare "to proceed from or toward a center," from radius "ray, beam, spoke" — related to radio, radius, ray entry 2

Medical Definition

radiate

1 of 2 verb

ra·​di·​ate ˈrād-ē-ˌāt 

radiated; radiating

intransitive verb

: to issue in or as if in rays : spread from a central point

back pain radiating to both upper legs

—Tony Miksanek

transitive verb

: irradiate

radiate

2 of 2 adjective

ra·​di·​ate ˈrād-ē-ət, -ē-ˌāt 

1

: having rays or radial parts

2

: characterized by radial symmetry : radially symmetrical