Word of the day · 29 August 2026
luminous
/ˈluːmɪnəs/
adjective
Giving off light, or clear and bright in appearance or expression.
In a sentence
- The dial glowed with a soft luminous green at night.
- She gave a luminous account of a hard year without self-pity.
- Fog turned the streetlamps into luminous orbs above the wet road.
In an image
Origin
From Latin luminosus, from lumen (light).
History
English has used luminous since the 1400s for things that shine. Science kept the literal sense for bodies that emit light. Writers also borrowed it for prose, faces and ideas that feel bright and lucid. The double life of the word (physical glow and mental clarity) is part of its lasting appeal.
Nearby words
radiant · glowing · lucent
Light you can see, and clarity you can feel.